mUm 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 
THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

Education 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

Livingstone  Porter 
1894-1955 


EDITION. 


PUBLISHED  BY  EVERT  DUYCKJNCK, 

NO.   110  PEARL-STREET. 

•J    C.   TOTTEN,  PRINTER. 

1810. 


\     1 


IN 


Livingstone  Porter' 
1894-1955 


, 


GOLDSMITH'S 


ROMAN/HISTORY. 


M3RIDGED  BYHIMS 

v>> 


USE    OF    SCHOOI 


FIFTH  .1MERICJJY  EDITION. 


PUBLISHED  BY  EVERT  DUYCKJNCK, 

NO.   110  PEARL-STREET. 
J    C.   TOTTEN,  PRINTER. 

1810. 


(2  'CS*  / 


;    I 
/ 


• 


PR   E.F  A   C 


THERE  are  some  subjects  on  which  a  writer  must 
decline  all  attempts  to  acquire  fame,  satisfied 
with  being  obscurely  useful.  After  such  a  number 
of  Roman  Histories,  in  all  languages,  ancient  and  mo- 
dern, it  would  be  but  imposture  to  pretend  new  discove- 
ries, or  to  expect  to  offer  any  thing  in  a  work  of  this 
kind,  which  has  not  been  often  anticipated  by  others. 
The  facts  which  it  relates  have  been  a  hundred  times 
repeated,  and  every  occurrence  has  been  so  variously 
considered,  that  learning  can  scarcely  find  a  new  anec- 
dote, or  genius  give  novelty  to  the  old. 

I  hope,  therefore,  for  the  reader's  indulgence,  if,  in, 
the  following  attempt,  it  shall  appear  that  my  only  aim 
was  to  supply  a  concise,  plain,  and  unaffected  narrative 
of  the  rise  and  decline  of  a  well  known  empire.  I  was 
contented  to  make  such  a  book  as  could  not  fail  of  being 
serviceable,  though  of  all  others  the  most  unlikely  to 
promote  the  reputation  df  the  writer.  Instead  there- 
fore of  pressing  forward  among  the  ambitious,  I  only 
claim  the  merit  of  knowing  my  own  strength,  and  falling 
back  among  the  hindmost  ranks  with  conscious  inferi-' 
ority. 

I  am  not  ignorant,  however,  that  it  would  be  no  such 
difficult  task  to  pursue  the  same  arts  by  which  many 
dull  men  every  day  acquire  a  reputation  in  history ; 
such  might  easily  be  attained,  by  fixing  on  some  obscure 
period  to  write  upon,  where  muck  seeming  erudition 
might  be  displayed,  almost  unknown,  because  not  worth 
remembering;  and  many  maxims  in  politics  might  be 
advanced  entirely  new,  because  altogether  false.  But 
I  have  pursued  a  contrary  method,  chusing  the  most 
noted  periods  in  history,  and  offering  no  remarks  biff 
as  I  thought  strictly  true, 

291 


iv.  PREFACE. 

The  reasons  of  my  choice  were,  that  we  had  no  his- 
tory of  this  splendid  period  in  our  language,  but  what 
was  either  too  voluminous  for  common  use,  or  too 
meanly  written  to  please.     Catrou  and  Kouille's  I  i 
ry,  in  six  volumes  folio,  translated  into  our  languai; 
Bundy,  is  entirely  unsuited  to  the  time  and  exju 
mankind  usually  chuse  to  bestow  upon  this  subject  : 
Rollin.  and  his  continuator  Crevicr,  making  above 
ty  volumes  octavo,  seem  to  labour  under 
putation  ;  as  likewise  Hooke,  who  has  spent  tl; 
tos  upon  the  republic  alone,  the  rest  of  hU  undertal 
remaining  unfinished.*     There  only  therefore  ren 
ed  the  History  by  Echard,  in  five  volumes  octa\ 
plan  and  mine  seemed  to  coincide  ;  and,  i  cou- 

pon been  equal  to  his  design,  it  had  precluded  the  ; 
sent  undertaking.     But  the  truth  is,  it  is  so  poorly 
ten,  the  facts  so  crovrtlcd,  the  narration  so 
the  characters  so  indistinctly  marked,  that  the 
dent  curiosity  must  cool  in  the  perusal  ;  and  the  noblest 
transactions  that  ever  warmed  the  human  hen: 
cribed  by  him  must  cease  to  inte: 

I  have  endeavoured,  therefore,  in  the  present  work 
(or  rather  compilation)  to  obviate  the  inconveniences 
arising  from  the  exuberance  of  the  former,  as  well  as 
from  the  unpleasantness  of  the  latter.     Too  much  time 
may  be  given   even  to  laudable  pursuits,  and  the 
none  more  apt  than  this,  to  allure  the  student  from 
more  necessary  branches  of  learning,  and  if  I  ma> 
express  it,  entirely  to  engross  his  indust: 
here  offered  therefore  may  be  sufficient  for  all  but  H 
as  make  history  the  peculiar  business  of  their  li  . 
to  such  the  most  tedious  narrative  will  seem  but 
abridgment,   as    they  measure  the  merit  of  a    work 
rather  by  the  quantity  than  the  quality  of  its  contents. 
Others,  however,  who  think  more  soberly,  will  aj; 
that  in. so  extensive  a  field  as  that  of  the  transactions  of 
Rome,  more  judgment  may  be  shewn  by  selecting  u 
is  important,  than  by  adding  what  is   obscure.      1 
history  of  this  empire  has  been  extended  to  six  volume* 

*  A  fourth  volume  has  been  since  published. 


PREFACE.  v. 

folio  ;  and  I  aver,  that  with  very  little  learning,  it  might 
be  increased  to  sixteen  more;  but  what  would  this  be 
but  to  load  the  subject  with  unimportant  facts,  and  so  to 
weaken  the  narration,  that  like  the  empire  it  described, 
It  must  necessarily  sink  beneath  the  weight  of  its  own. 
acquisitions  ! 

But  while  I  thus  have  endeavoured  to  avoid  prolixity, 
it  was  found  no  easy  matter  to  prevent  crouding  the 
facts,  and  to  give  every  narration  its  proper  play.  In 
reality,  no  art  can  contrive  to  avoid  opposite  defects  ; 
he  who  indulges  in  minute  particularities  will  be  often^ 
languid,  and  he  who  studies  conciseness  will  as  fre- 
quently be  dry  and  unentertaining.  As  it  was  my  aim 
to  comprise  as  much  as  possible  in  tjj5 Smallest  com- 
pass, it  is  feared  the  work  will  often  be  subject  to  the 
hitter  imputation  ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  furnish  the 
public  with  a  cheap  Roman  history,  and  at  the  same 
time  give  all  that  warmth  to  the  narrative,  all  these 
colourings  to  the  description,  which  works  of  twent" 
times  the  bulk  have  room  to  exhibit.  I  shall  be  fully" 
satisfied,  therefore,  if  it  furnishes  an  interest  sufficient 
to  allure  the  reader  to  the  end  ;  and  this  is  a  claim 
to  which  few  abridgments  can  justly  make  pretensions. 

To  these  objections  there  are  some  who  may  add, 
that  I  have  rejected  many  of  the  modern  improvements 
in  Roman  history,  and  that  every  character  is  left  in 
full  possession  of  that  fame  or  infamy  which  it  obtained 
from  its  contemporaries,  or  those  who  wrote  immedi- 
ately after.  I  acknowledge  the  charge,  for  it  appears 
now  too  late  to  rejudge  the  virtues  or  the  vices  of  those 
men  who  were  but  very  incompletely  known  even  to 
their  own  historians.  The  Romans,  perhaps,  upon  ma- 
ny occasions,  formed  wrong  ideas  of  virtue  ;  but  they 
were  by  no  means  so  ignorant  or  abandoned  in  general 
as  not  to  give  their  brightest  characters  the  greatest 
share  of  their  applause  ;  and  I  do  not  know  whether  it 
be  fair  to  try  Pagan  actions  by  the  standard  of  Christian 
morality. 

But  whatever  may  be  my  execution  of  this  work,  I 
very  little  doubts  about  the  success  of  the  under- 
taking j  the  subject  Is  the  noblest  that  ever  employed 

AO 
.    * 


vi.  PREFACE. 

human  attention  ;  and  instead  of  requiring  a  wri 
aid,  will  support  him  with  its  splendour.     The  empire 
of   the  world,  rising   from    the  meanest    origin, 
growing  great  by  a  strict  veneration  for  religion, 
an   implicit  confidence  in  its  commanders,  continually 
changing  the  mode,  but  seldom  the  spirit  of  its  go% 
ment,  being  a  constitution  in  which  the  milita: 
whether  under  the  name  of  citizens  or  soldiers,  almost 
always  prevailed ;    adopting  all  the  improvements  of 
.other  nations  with  the  most  indefatigable  industry,  and 
~^>«4)bmiuing  to  be  taught  by  those  whom  it  afterv 
subdued  ;  this  is  a  picture  that  must  affect  us  hov. 
it  be  dispoaxd^;  these  materials  must  have  their  * 
ujnder  the  Iiand'Hhc  meanest  workman. 


THE 


H  I  S  T  O  R  \ 


OF    THE 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME. 


CHAP.  I. 

Of  the  Original  of  the  Romans. 

E  Romans  were  particularly  desirous  of  being 
L  thought  descended  from  the  gods,  as  if  to  hide  the 
meanness  of  their  real  ancestry.  jEneas,  the  son  of  Ve- 
nus and  Anchises,  having  escaped  from  the  destruction 
of  Troy,  after  many  adventures  and  dangers,  arrived  in 
Italy  [A.  M.  2294.]  where  he  was  kindly  received  by  La- 
linus,  king  of  the  Latins,  who  gave  him  his  daughter 
Lavinia  in  marriage.  Turnus,  king  of  the  Rutuli,  was 
the  first  who  opposed  JEneas,  he  having  long  made  pre- 
tensions to  Lavinia  himself.  A  war  ensued,  in  which 
;he  Trojan  hero  was  victorious,  and  Turnus  slain.  In 
consequence  of  this,  ^Eneas  built  a  city  which  was  called 
Lavinium,  in  honour  of  his  wife  :  and  some  time  afterr 
engaging  in  another  war  against  Mezentinus,  one  of 
the  petty  kings  of  the  country,  he  was  vanquished  in 
Uirn,  and  died  in  battle,  after  a  reign  of  four  years. 

Numitor,  the  fifteenth  king  in  a  direct  line  from  jEne- 
as,  who  took  possession  of  the  kingdom  in  consequence 
of  his  father's  will,  had  a  brother  named  Amulius,  to 
whom  he  left  the  treasures  which  had  been  brought  from 
Troy.  As  riches  but  too  generally  prevail  against  right.- 


8  THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti 

Amulius  made  use  of  his  wealth  to  supplant  his  brother, 
and  soon  found  means  to  possess  himself  of  the  kingdom. 
Not  content  with  the  crime  of  usurpation,  he  added 
of  murder  also.     Numitor's  sons  first  fell  c  to 

his  suspicions ;  and  to  remove  all  apprehensions  of  being 
one  day  disturbed  in  his  ill  got  powe:  -ed  Rhea 

Silvia,  his  brother's  only  dvtughter,  to  beconu 
virgin  ;  which  office  obliging  her  to  perpetual  celil 
made  him  less  uneay  as  to  the  claims  of  poster : 

His  precautions,  however,  were  all  frustrated  in  the 
event :  for  Rhea  Silvia,  going  to  fetch  water  from  a 
neighbouring  grove,  was  met  and  ravished  by  a  man, 
whom,  perhaps  to  palliate  her  oficnrc,  she  averred  i 
Mars,  the^y}  of  war.     From  this  congress  she  was 
brought  to  bed  of  two  boys,  who  were  no  sooner  horn 
than  devoted  by  the  usurper  to  destruction.  Tl.< 
was  condemned  to  be  buried  alive,  the  usual  pin 
ior  vestals  who  had  violated  their  chastity,  and 
were  ordered  to  be  Hung  into  the  river  Tybcr.     It 
pened  at  the  time  this  rigorous  sentence  was  put  im 
ccution,  that  the  river  had  more  than  usually  overflt 
its  banks,  so  that  the  place  where  the  children  \ 
thrown  being  at  a  distance  from  the  main  current,  thi 
ter  was  too  shallow  to  drown  them.     In  this  situation, 
therefore,  they  continued  without  harm;  and,  that  no 
part  of  their  preservation  might  want  its  wonder> 
are  told  that  they  were  for  some  time  suckled  by  a 
until  Faustulus,  the  king's  herdsman,  finding  them  thus 
exposed,  brought  them  home  to  Aca  LaurentL 
wko  brought  them  up  as  his  own. 

Romulus  and  Remus,  the  twins,  thus  strangely  pre- 
served, seemed  early  to  discover  abilities  and  deaires 
above  the  meanness  of  their  supposedoriginal.  The  shep- 
herd's life  began  to  displease  them  ;  and,  from  tei, 
flocks,  or  hunting  wild  beasts,  they  soon  turned  their 
strength  against  the  robbers  round  the  country,  whom 
they  often  stript  of  thrir  plunder  to  share  it  among  • 
fellow  shepherd*.     In  one  of  these  excursions  Remus 
was  taken  prisoner  by  Numitor's  herdsman,  who  brought 
him  before  the  king,  who  accused  him  of  being  a  p 
derer.  Romulus,  however,  being  informed  by  Faustuius 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  9 

uf  his  real  birth,  was  not  remiss  in  assembling  a  num- 
ber of  his  fellow  shepherds,  who  beset  the  usurper  on 
all  sides,  who,  during  his  amazement  and  destraction, 
was  taken  and  slain  j  while  Numitor,  who  had  been  de- 
posed forty-two  years,  recognized  his  grandsons,  and 
was  once  more  restored  to  the  throne. 

Numitor  being  thus  in  quiet  possession  of  the  kingdom, 
his  grandsons  resolved  to  build  a  chy  upon  those  hills 
where  they  had  formerly  lived  as  shepherds.  Many  of 
the  neighbouring  shepherds  also,  and  such  as  were  fond 
of  change,  repaired  to  the  intended  city,  and  prepared 
to  raise  it.  In  order  to  proceed  in  this  undertaking  with 
all  possible  solemnity,  the  two  brothers  were  advised  by 
the  king  to  take  an  omen  from  the  flight  of  birds,  and 
he  whose  omen  should  be  most  favourable  should 
in  all  respects  direct  the  other.  In  compliance  with 
this  advice  they  both  took  their  stations  upon  different 
hills.  To  Remus  appeared  six  vultures  ;  to  Romulus 
twice  thut  number  ;  so  that  each  party  thought  itself 
victorious  ;  the  one  having  the  first  omen,  the  other  the 
most  complete.  This  produced  a  contest,  which  ended 
in  a  battle,  wherein  Remus  was  slain  ;  and  it  is  even 
said  that  he  was  killed  by  his  brother,  who  being  pro- 
voked at  his  leaping  contemptuously  over  the  city  wall, 
struck  him  dead  upon  the  spot. 

Romulus,  being  now  sole  commander,  and  eighteen 
years  of  age,  began  the  foundation  of  a  city,  that  was 
one  day  to  give  laws  to  the  world.  It  was  called  Rome, 
after  the  name  of  the  founder,  and  built  upon  the  Pala- 
tine hill,  on  which  he  had  taken  his  successful  omen  [A. 
252.  ante  c.  752.]  The  chy  was  at  first  almost 
square,  containing  about  a  thousand  houses.  It  was  near 
a  mile  in  compass,  and  commanded  a  small  territory 
round  it  of  about  eight  miles  over.  However,  small  as 
it  appears,  it  was  notwithstanding  worse  inhabited  ;  and 
the  first  method  made  use  of  to  increase  its  numbers, 
was  the  opening  a  sanctuary  for  all  malefactors,  slaves, 
and  such  as  were  desirous  of  novelty  ;  and  these  came 
in  great  multitudes,  and  contributed  to  increase  th« 
number  of  our  legislator's  new  subjects. 


10  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

CHAP.  II. 

:  the  building  cf  Ron:- 

SCARCE  was  the  city  raised  above  its  foyndation, 
when  its  rud>  \  to  think  of  giving 

sonic  form  to  their  constitution.     Romulu  :t  of 

great  generosity*  left  them  at  liberty  to  chuse  whom 
they  would   for  their  king ;  and  the>  con- 

curred to  elect  their  founder  :  h 

cf  of  thei. 
trate  of  Rome,  and  general   of  the  am. 

d  to  attend  his  person,  it  was  agr  :c  should 

eccded  wherever  he  went  med 

with  axes  tied  up  in  a  bundle  of  rods,  who  were  to c : 

the  law,  and  to  impress  his  new  sub- 
/.  ith  an  idea  of  hisauth* 
The  senate,  which  was  to  act  as  rounsell 
king,  was  composed  cf  an  hundred  of  the  prii, 

-  of  Rome,  consisting  of  men  whose  a<;  s  or 

valour,  gave  them  a  natural  authority  over  their  fellow 

•jets;  and  the  king  named  the  first  senator,  anil 
pointed  him  to  the  government  of  the  city,  v. 

f*C. 

The  Plebeians,  who  composed  the  third  part  of  the 

awmed  to  themselves  the  power  of  anthor- 

passed  by  the  king  or  the 

.:e.     All  things  relative  to  peace  or  war,  to  the  t 
•  to  the  chu«.inga  king,  \ 
confirmed  by  suffrages  in  their  assemblies. 

The  first  care  of  the  new  created  king  was  to 
toth  ait  the  precise  form  of  t 

worship  is  unknown.     The  greatest  part  of  the  religion 
of  that  age  consisted  in  a  firm  reliance  upon  tin 
their  soothsayers,  who  pretended,  from  cT  s  on 

the  flight  of  birds,  and  the  entrails  of  beasts,  tori 
present,  and  to  dive  into  futurity.     Romulus, 
press  law,  commanded  that  no  election  should  be  n:.. 
no  enterprize  undertaken,  without  first  consulting  tl 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME. 

Wives  were  forbid,  upon  any  pretext  whatsoever,  to 
separate  from  their  husbands ;  while,  on  the  contrary, 
the  husband  was  empowered  to  repudiate  his  wife,  and 
even  in  some  cases  to  put  her  to  death.  His  laws  be- 
tween children  and  their  parents  were  yet  still  more  se- 
vere ;  the  father  had  entire  power  over  his  offspring, 
both  of  fortune  and  life  ;  he  could  sell  them  or  im- 
prison them,  at  any  time  of  their  lives,  or  in  any  stations 
to  which  they  were  arrived. 

After  his  endeavours  by  law  to  regulate  his  subjects, 
he  next  gave  orders  to  ascertain  their  numbers.  The 
whole  amounted  but  to  three  thousand  foot,  and  about  as 
many  hundred  horsemen,  capable  of  bearing  arms, 
These  therefore  were  divided  equally  into  three  tribes, 
and  to  each  he  assigned  a  different  part  of  the  city. 
i?ach  of  these  tribes  were  subdivided  into  ten  curix,  or 
companies,  consisting  of  an  hundred  men  each,  with  a 
centurion  to  command  it ;  a  priest,  called  curio,  to  per- 
form the  sacrifices ;  and  two  of  the  principal  inhabitants, 
called  duumviri,  to  distribute  justice. 

By  these  wise  regulations,  each  day  added  strength  to 
the  new  city  ;  multitudes  flocked  in  from  all  the  adjacent 
towns,  and  it  only  seemed  to  want  women  to  ascertain  its 
duration.  In  this  exigence,  Romulus,  by  the  advice  of 
the  senate,  sent  deputies  among  the  Sabines,  his  neigh- 
bours, entreating  their  alliance,  and  upon  these  terms 
ottering  to  cement  the  most  strict  confederacy  with  them. 
The  Sabines,  who  were  then  considered  as  tlie  most  war- 
like people  of  Italy  rejected  the  proposal  with  disdain  : 
Romulus,  therefore,  proclaimed  a  feast  in  honour  of  Nep- 
tune, throughout  all  the  neighbouring  villages,  and  made 
the  most  magnificent  preparations  for  it.  These  feasts 
were  generally  preceded  by  sacrifices,and  ended  in  shews 
of  wrestlers,  gladiators,  and  chariot  courses.  The  Sa- 
lines, as  he  had  expected,  were  among  the  foremost 
who  came  to  be  spectators,  bringing  their  wives  and 
daughters  with  them,  to  share  the  pleasure  of  the  sight. 
In  the  mean  time  the  games  began,  and  while  ike  stran- 
gers were  most  intent  upon  the  spectacle,  a  number  of 
the  Roman  youth  rushed  in  among  them  with  tlrawn 
'  ds,  seized  the  youngest  and  most  beautiful  womer>; 


THE  HISTORY  OI 

and  carried  them  off  by  violence.     In  vain  the  pa 
protested  against  this  breach  of  hosphalit) 

ins  themselves  at  first  opposed  the  attemp- 
ravishers,  perseverance  and  caressess  obtained  the 
vours,  which   timidity   at   first  denied  ;  so  that  the  be- 
trayers, from  being  objects  of  aversion,  soon  btc 
the  partners  of  their  dearest  affec 

A  bloody  war  ensued.     Tin  ia,  Antcm- 

na,  and  Crustumium,  were  the  t:  j  re- 

venge the  common  cai  1  too 

dilatory  in  pursuing.     But  all  these  !  separate 

inroads,  became  a  more 

!e  the  most  merciful  u-<  1  of 

destroying  their  towns,  abcrs,  he 

"iily  placed  colonies  of  Romans  in  them, 
frontier  to  rep-  :ons. 

Tatius,  king  of  Cu: 

i  >  undertook  to  revenge 
1  suffered.     He  entered  the 

Roman  territories  at  the  head  of  tv.  *  thousand 

men,  and  not  content  wi:h  a  supr 

ded  stra1  >Thter   to 

the  commander  ol  ollne  hill,  happen* 

into  his  hands  as  she  went  withov  of  the  ci: 

cr.  Upon  her  he  prevailed,  by  means  of  large 
promises,  to  betray  one  of  the  gates  to  his  army.  The 
reward  she  engaged  fo:  .'.t  the  soldiers  Wore  on 

their  arms,  by  which  she  rm  bracelets.     They, 

however,  either  mistaking  her  meaning,  or  willing  to 
punish  her  perfidy,  threw  their  bucklers  upon  her  as  • 
entered,  and  crushed  her  to  death.     '1  <  ing 

thus  possessed  of  the  Capitoline,  after  some  time  a 
eral  engagement  ensue  eral 

days  with  almost  equal  success,  and  neither  could  think 
of  submitting:  it  was  in  the  valley  between  the  Capito- 
line and  Quirnal  hills,  that  the  last  engagement  was 
fought  between  the  Romans  and  Sabines.  The  engage- 
ment was  now  become  general,  and  the  slaughter  pro- 
digious, when  the  attention  of  both  sides  was  suddenly 

cd  from  the  scene  of  horror  before  them,  to  anotl 
*ill  at  length  the  Sabinc  women,  who  liad  been  carric 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  HOME.  13 

by  the  Romans,  with  their  hair  loose,  and  their  orna- 
ments neglected,  flew  in  between  the  combatants,  regard- 
less of  their  own  danger,  and  with  loud  outcries  implor- 
ed their  husbands  and  th<Mv  children  to  desist.  Upon 
this,  the  combatants,  as  ii"  by  mutual  impulse,  let  fall 
their  weapons  ;  an  accommodation  ensued,  by  which  it 
was  agreed,  that  Romulus  and  Tatius  should  reign  joint- 
ly in  Rome,  with  equal  power  and  prerogative,  that  an 
hundred  S:\bines  should  be  admitted  into  the  senate,  that 
the  city  should  still  retain  its  former  name,  but  that  the 
citizens  should  be  called  Quirites,  after  Cures,  the  prin- 
cipal town  of  the  Sabines,  and  that  both  nations  being 
thus  united,  such  of  the  Sabines  as  chose  it,  should  be 
admitted  to  live  in  and  enjoy  all  the  privileges  of  citi- 
zens in  Rome.  Tatius  was  killed  about  live  years  af- 
ter by  the  Lavinians,  for  having  protected  some  servants 
of  his,  who  had  plundered  them  and  slain  their  ambas- 
sadors ;  so  that  by  this  accident  Romulus  once  more 

himself  sole  monarch  of  Rome. 

Successes  like  these  produced  an  equal  share  of  pride 
in  the  conqueror.  From  being  contented  with  those 
limits  which  had  been  wisely  assigned  to  his  power,  he 
began  to  affect  absolute  sway,  and  to  govern  those  laws 
to  which  he  had  himself  formerly  professed  implicit 
obedience.  The  senate  was  particularly  displeased  at 
his  conduct,  as  they  found  themselves  only  used  as  in- 
struments to  ratify  the  rigour  of  his  commands.  We 
are  not  told  the  precise  manner  which  they  employed 
to  get  rid  of  the  tyrant ;  some  say  that  he  was  torn  in 
pieces  in  the  senate-house  ;  others  that  he  disappeared 
while  reviewing  his  army.  Certain  it  is,  that  from  the 
secrecy  of  the  tact,  and  the  concealment  of  the  body, 
they  took  occasion  to  persuade  the  multitude  that  he 
was  taken  up  into  heaven  :  thus  him  whom  they  could 
not  bear  as  a  king,  they  were  contented  to  worship  as  a 
god.  Romulus  reigned  thirty-seven  years,  and  after 
his  death,  had  a  temple  built  to  him  under  the  name  of 
Quirinus. 


14  THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti 

:  VP.  III. 

From  the  death  of  X  smut  its,  to  the  deat!  Pom- 

pHiu-f)  tti: 

8.] 

UPON  the  death  of  Romulus,  the 
ly  divided  in  the  ch- 

were  lor  having  a  king  chosen  from  ' 
hut  the  Romans  could  not  bear  the  though: 
ciiu^  a  stranger  to  the  throne.  In  thi- 

is  undertook  to  supply  the  ; 
taking  the  governm  of  them  in  turn,  for  five 

.ml  during  that  time  enjoying  all  the  \\ 
all  the  pri\  ; 

meat  continued  tor  a  year,  but  the  Pie'. 
that  this  method  of  -  multi- 

plying their  ma 

Tnment.     Tl.  to  an 

rd   upon 
.  their  ch 
approbating  by  the  people. 

Nmna  Pompilius,  who  :bout  forty, 

been  eminent  for  his  piety,  hi 
exemplary  life.  ^killed  in  all  the  K 

philosophy  of  th  «  and  lived  at  hon.i 

contented  with  a  private  fortune,  unambitious  oi 
honours.  It  was  not,  therefore,  without  rcluctai 
he  accepted  the  dignity,  whi  it  pro-/ 

duccil  such  joy,  that  the  people  seemed  not  so  much  to 
receive  a  king  as  a  kingdom. 

No  monarch  could  be  more  proper  for   then 
Nu ma,  at  a  conjuncture  \\ 
posed  of  various  petty  stu 
united  among  each  other  :  they  wanted  a  i 
could,  by  h'.  ul  precepts,  soften  their  fieri 

po-iiions,  and  by  his  example  induce  them  to  a  love  of 
religion,  and  every  milder  virtue. 

naS  whole  lime,  therefore,  was  spent  in 
his  subjects  whh  a  love  of  piety,  and  a  ver.« 
the  gocU.  He  built  many  new  temples,  instituted 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  15 

offices  and  feasts,  and  the  sanctity  of  his  life  gave  him 
credit  enough  to  persuade  his  people  that  he  had  a  par- 
ticular correspondence  with  the  goddess  Egeria.  By 
her  advice  he  built  the  temple  of  Janus,  which  was  to 
be  shut  in  time  of  peace,  and  open  in  war  ;  he  ordain- 
ed vestal  virgins,  who,  being  four  in  number,  had  very- 
great  privileges  allowed  them. 

For  the   encouragement  of  agriculture,  he  divided 

-c  lands  which  Romulus  had  gained  in  war  among 
the  poorer  part  of  the  people  ;  he  regulated  the  calen- 
der, and  abolished  the  distinction  between  Romans  and 

•lies,  by  dividing  the  people  according  to  their  sev- 
eral trades,  and  compelling  them  to  live  together.  Thus, 
having  arrived  at  the  age  of  four  score  years,  and  having 
reigned  forty-three  in  profound  peace,  he  died,  ordering 
his  body  to  be  buried  in  a  stone  coffin,  contrary  to  the: 

om  of  the  times,  and  his  books  of  ceremonies,  which 
consisted  of  twelve  in  Latin,  and  as  many  in  Greek,  to 
be  buried  by  his  side  in  another. 

CHAP.  IV. 

From  the  death  of  Numa,  to  the  death  cf  Titllus  R 
tilius,  the  third  king  of  Rome. 

[u.  C.  8:.] 

UPON  the  death  of  Numa,  the  government  once 
more  d  volved  upon  the  senate,  and  continued 
till  the  people  elected  Tullus  Iloslilius  for  their  king, 
which  choice  had  also  the  concurrence  of  the  other  part 
of  the  constitution.  This  monarch,  who  was  grandson 
to  a  noble  Roman,  who  had  formerly  signalized  himself 
•.bines,  was  evci;  way  unlike  his  predeces- 
sor, being  entirely  devoted  to  v>ur,  and  more  fond  of 
enlerprize,  than  even  the  founder  of  the  empire  him- 
self had  been  ;  so  that  he  only  sought  a  pretext  for  lead- 
ing his  forces  into  the  field. 

Albans  were  the  first  people  who  gave  him  an  op- 
unity  of  indulging  his  favourite  inclinations.  The 
•*»  of  those  two  states  .met  about  five  miles  from 


16  IK  HISTORY  O; 

Rome,  prepared  to  decide  the  fate  of  their  respective 
kingdoms;  for  almost  every  b-ittlc  in  these  times  was 

e.  The  two  armies  were  for  some  time  drawn 
out  in  array,  awaiting  the  signal  to  begin,  both  chiding 
the  length  of  that  dreadful  su\  .n  an  unexpect- 

ed proposal  from  th(  i  put  a  stop  to  i 

set      Step;  cd  the 

Romans  a  choi  e  com- 

iiose  chai: 

mould  submit  to  the  conqueror.     A  proposal  like 
i-tuous  temper  oft; 

hoped  tint  he  hi 

of  his.  ••thistinu  in  bro- 

thers in  each  army  llomans  were   called 

Horatii,  and  those  of  the  AlbansCi:  i  mark- 

able  for  their  courage,  sir.  .  these 

Ivccl  to  commr  c  com- 

bat.    A'. lciu;'h  thccham;  t  together; 

and  e;  > 

the  de  .opponent.    '1 

rid  silence,  trembled  at  every  blow,  and 
the  danger,   till   for: 
the  field.     Victory,  that  i. 

1  to  declare  against  the  Rom.-: 

of  their   champions  lyingdcid  upon  tlu  ;id  the 

three  Ciiri.tlii,  «  vounded,  slowly  ei. 

to  pursue  the  survivor,  who  s  < 
mercy.     Soon,  1  they  per 

ly  pretended,  in  order  t-    . 
whom  he  v. 

Mil  him  who  fol- 
lowed i  ,  hind,  he 
the  second  brother,  who  came  on  t 

fallen,  only  shared  •    there   re- 

mained bift  the  last  Curiatius  to  co 
.-.ml  (jiyte  di 
offer  an  easy  victory.      1  !cd,  almost  uir 

hile  the  concjueror  excl  flered   hi 

i  to  the  s\:  of  the  Romans,  whom  now  the 

:i'.ed  to  ol- 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  1? 

But  none  of  the  virtues  of  that  age  were  without  al- 
loy ;  the  very  hand  that  in  the  morning  was  exerted  to 
save  his  country,  was  before  night  embrued  in  the  blood 
of  his  sister.  For,  returning  triumphant  from  the  field, 
it  raised  his  indignation  to  behold  her  bathed  in  tears, 
and  lamenting  the  loss  of  her  lover,  one  of  the  Curiatii, 
to  whom  she  was  betrothed.  This  provoked  him  beyond 
the  power  of  sufferance,  so  that  he  slew  her  in  a  rage. 
This  action  greatly  displeased  the  senate,  and  drew  on 
the  condemnation  of  the  magistrates;  but  he  was  par- 
doned by  making  his  appeal  to  the  people. 

Hostilius  died,  after  a  reign  of  thirty-two  years  ; 
some  say  by  lightning,  others,  with  more  probability, 
by  treason. 

CHAP.  V. 

•'ii  the  death  of  Tullus  Hostilhis,  to  the  death  of 
Ancus  Martins,  the  fourth  king  of  Rome. 

[U.  C.  115.] 

AFTER  an  interregnum,  as  in  the  former  case, 
Ancus  Martius,  the  grandson  of  Numa,  was  elect- 
ed king  by  the  people,  and  the  choice  afterwards  was 
confirmed  by  the  senate.  As  this  monarch  was  a  lineal 
descendant  from  Numa,  so  he  seemed  to  make  him 
the  great  object  of  his  imitation.  He  instituted  the  sa- 
cred ceremonies  which  were  to  precede  a  declaration  of 
war  ;  he  took  every  occasion  to  advise  his  subjects  to 
return  to  the  arts  of  agriculture,  and  to  lay  aside  the 
less  useful  stratagems  of  war. 

These  institutions  and  precepts  were  considered  by 
the  neighbouring  powers  rather  as  marks  of  cowardice 
than  of  wisdom.  The  Latins  therefore  began  to  make 
incursions  upon  his  territories,  but  their  success  was 
equal  to  their  justice.  Ancus  conquered  the  Latins, 
destroyed  their  cities,  removed  their  inhabitants  to 
Rome,  and  increased  his  territories  by  the  addition  of 
part  of  theirs.  He  quelled  also  an  insurrection  of  the 
B  2 


1>8  THE  HISTORY  Ol 

:  idenates,  and  the  Volsci ;  and  over  the  Sa- 
bines  he  obtained  a  second  triumph. 

But  his  victories  over  the  enemy  were  by  no  means 
comparable  to  h  :nples», 

building  a   sea-port  ut  the  mouth  of  the  Tybcr, 

subjects  : 
that  river  and  that  of  UK 

.     1  bcautific  '. 
ed  after  a  reir 


<  HAP. 

qul.  fth  king  of  Rwc. 

[l-   C    138] 

Liiscus,  vrhose  • 
. 

sfromwh 

coir 

ccount  of  some  troubles  at  home.     His  si 
mo:  .  tbnuae,  i 

mil> 

place,  by  his  wife's  pci> 

;e  appro. 
x)ve,  took  ofi 

round  hi-  for  some  • 

koi. 

v,  interpreted 

aid  one  day  wear  the  c  '/s  it  was 

this  which  first  fired  his  ambition  to  pursue  it. 

L-,  Tarquin  used  all  his  y 
arts  :Je  the  children  ol 

cltcred  in  their  ;>tea<h    For  this  purpose,  upon 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          r9 

the  day  appointed  for  election,  he  contrived  to  have 
them  sent  out  of  the  city  :  and  in  a  set  speech  to  the 
people,  in  which  he  argued  his  friendship  for  them,  the 
fortune  he  had  spent  among  them,  and  his  knowledge 
of  their  government,  he  offered  himself  for  their  king. 
As  there  was  nothing  in  this  harangue  that  could  be 
contested,  it  had  the  desired  effect,  and  the  people,  with 
one  consent,  elected  him  as  their  sovereign. 

A  kingdom,  thus  got  by  intrigue,  was,  notwithstand- 
ing, governed  with  equity.  In  the  beginning  of  his 
reign,  in  order  to  recompence  his  friends,  he  added  an 
hundred  members  more  to  the  senate,  which  made  them 
in  all  three  hundred. 

But  his  peaceful  endeavours  were  soon  interrupted  by 
the  inroads  of  his  restless  neighbours,  particularly  the 
Latins,  over  whom  he  triumphed,  and  whom  he  forced 
to  beg  a  peace.  He  then  turned  his  arms  against  the 
Subines,  who  had  risen  OHCC  more,  and  had  passed  over 
the  river  Tyber  ;  but  Tarquin,  attacking  them  with  vi- 
gour, routed  their  army  ;  so  that  many  who  escaped  the 
sword,  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross  over,  while 
their  bodies  and  armour,  floating  down  to  Rome,  brought 
news  of  the  victory  even  before  the  messengers  could 
arrive  that  were  sent  with  the  tidings.  These  conquests 
were  followed  by  several  advantages  over  the  Latins, 
from  whom  he  took  many  towns,  though  without  gain- 
ing any  decisive  victory. 

Tarquin  having  thus  forced  his  enemies  into  submis- 
sion, was  resolved  not  to  let  his  subjects  corrupt  in  in- 
dolence, but  undertook  and  perfected  several  public 
works  for  the  convenience  and  embellishment  of  the  city. 

In  his  time  also,  the  augurs  came  into  a  great  increase 
of  reputation,  and  he  found  it  his  interest  to  prgmote  the 
superstition  of  the  people,  as  this  was  in  fact  but  to  in- 
crease their  obedience.  Tanaquil,  his  wife,  was  a  great 
pretender  to  this  art ;  but  Accius  Naevius  was  the  most 
celebrated  adept  of  the  kind  that  was  ever  known  in 
Rome.  Upon  a  certain  occasion,  Tarquin  being  resolv- 
ed to  try  the  augur's  skill,  asked  him,  whether  what  he 
was  then  pondering  in  his  mind  could  be  effected  ?  Nae- 
having  examined  his  auguries,  boldly  affirmed  that 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Tin:- 

i\  might :   "  Why  then,"  cries  the  king  \vith  an  insult- 
Ing  smile,  "  I  had  thoughts  of  cutting  this  whetstone 

i  a  razor."  "  Cut  boldly,"  replied  the  augur;  and 
the  king  cut  it  through  accordingly.  Thence  forward 
nothing  was  undertaken  in  Rome  without  consulting  the 
augurs,  and  obtaining  their  advice  and  approbation. 

Tarquin  was  not  content  with  a  kingdom  without  also 
the  ensigns  of  royalty.  In  imitation  of  the  Lydian  kings 
he;  crown  oi  ivory  throne,  a  sceptre 

with  an  eagle  on  the  top,  and  robes  of  purple.     It  was, 
perhaps,  the  splendour  of  these  royalties  that  first  r; 
the  envy  of  the  late  king's  sons,  who  had  now,  for  above 
thirty-beven  years,  ibmitted  t  crnment. 

His  i!  sign  aiso  of  adopting  S 

tor  his  successor,  might  have  contributed  to  inflame 
their  resentment.  \Vhatc\  -vise  of  their 

v  vengeance,  they  resolved  to  destroy  him  ;  and  at 

tountl  means  to  effect  t.  :>se,  by  hiring  two 

ruffians,  who  ig  to  speak  with  the  king, 

tending  that  il  -> 

h  the  blow  of  an  axe.     The  lictors,  ho\ 
er,  who  waited  upon  the  person  oft!  :  the 

tnui  lio  were  a 

put  to  death,  but  the  sons  of  Ancus,  who  were  the  in- 

us,  to 
dutii 

i   he   had  reigned 

v  -eight. 

vn 

;  the  death  of 
ius  Tullius,  the  sixth  /t///^  of  Rome. 

[U.  C.  179.] 

T^HK  report  of  the  murder  of  Tarquin,  filled  all  his 

A    subjects  with  complaint  and  indignation,  while  the 

ens  ran  from  every  quarter^  the  palace  toleani 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          ?1 

truth  of  the  account,  or  to  take  vengeance  on  the  assas- 
sins. In  this  tumult,  Tana.quil,  widow  of  the  late  king, 
considering  the  danger  she>must  incur  in  case  the  con- 
spirators should  succeed  to  the  crown,  and  desirous  of 
having  her  son-in-law  for  his  successor,  with  great  art 
dissembled  her  sorrows  as  well  as  the  king's  death.  She 
assured  the  people,  from  one  of  the  windows  of  the  pa- 
lace, that  he  was  not  killed  but  stunned  by  the  blow  ; 
that  he  would  shortly  recover :  and  that,  in  the  mean 
time,  he  had  deputed  his  power  to  Servius  Tullius,  his 
son-in-law.  Servius  accordingly,  as  it  had  been  agreed 
upon  between  them,  issued  from  the  palace,  adorned 
with  the  ensigns  of  royalty,  and  preceded  by  his  lictors, 
and  went  to  dispatch  some  affairs  that  related  to  the 
public  safety,  still  pretending  that  he  took  all  his  instruc- 
tions from  the  king.  This  scene  of  dissimulation  con- 
tinued for  some  days,  till  he  had  made  his  party  good 
among  the  nobles ;  when  the  death  of  Tarquin  being 
publicly  ascertained,  Servius  came  to  the  crown,  solely 
at  the  senate's  appointment,  and  without  attempting  to 
gain  the  suffrages  of  the  people. 

Servius  was  the  son  of  a  bondwoman,  who  had  been 
taken  at  the  sacking  of  a  town  belonging  to  the  Latins, 
and  was  born  whilst  his  mother  was  a  slave.  While  yet 
an  infant  in  his  cradle,  a  lambent  flame  is  said  to  have 
played  round  his  head,  which  Tanaquil  converted  into 
an  omen  of  his  future  greatness. 

Upon  being  acknowledged  as  king,  the  chief  object  of 
his  reign  was  to  increase  the  power  of  the  senate  by  de- 
pressing that  of  tjie  people.  The  populace?  who  were 
unable  to  see  into  his  designs,  conferred  upon  him  a  full 
power  of  settling  the  taxes  as  he  should  think  proper. 
And  accordingly,  as  he  insisted  that  they  should  pay 
their  taxes  by  centuries,  he  commanded  that  they  should 
give  their  votes  in  all  public  transactions  by  centuries 
also.  In  former  deliberations,  each  citizen  gave  his 
suffrage  singly,  and  the  numbers  of  the  poor  always  car- 
ried it  against  the  power  of  the  rich  ;  but  by  the  regu- 
lations of  Servius,  the  senate  was  made  to  consist  of  a 
<pr  number  of  centuries  than  all  the  other  cla^ 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

put  together,  and  thus  entirely  outweighed  them  ii, 
cry  contention.  ^ 

In  order  to  ascertain  the  ^crease  or  decay  of  his  sub- 
jects and  their  fortunes,  he  instituted  ar.  ula- 
tion,  which  he  called  a  lustrum.  By  this  all  th< 

c  to  assemble  in  the  Campu-  in  complete 

armour,  and  in  their  respective  classes,  once  in  fire 
1  there  to  give  an  exact  account  of  their  fami- 
lies anil  fortunes. 

IIa\in-  thus  enjoyed  a  long;  reign,  spent  in  sc 
the  i  policy  of  the  st 

to  foreign  concerns,  he  con  hopes  of 

con'  with  trail 

the  ;>ublic,  to   retire   into  oi 

ed  ere  it  could  be 
put  into  execution. 

In  the  be..  ia  throne  by 

\  that  the 
their  in- 
tended husbands,  :  npcrs  by 

•er  :  her 

ilia! 

ipposcd  that  each  rcct  the  t  the 

otlu .  i  the  mixture  would  be  oa- 

his  :  i  he 

upo  i  is  brothc 

unj;  •  they  soc 

r-aint  that  offered  to  prevent  their  union  , 
>ok  to  murder  their  ronsor: 

and  were  accordingly  soon  after  married  together.     A 
first  crime  ever  produces  a  second  :  from  the 
tionofth*  !s,  they  proceeded  to  cor. 

the  king.     They  b  .-.im, 

A  title  to  the 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          23 

claiming  il  as  his  own,  as  heir  to  Tarquin.  At  length, 
when  he  found  the  senate  ripe  for  seconding  his  views, 
he  entered  the  senate  house  adorned  with  all  the  ensigns 
of  royalty,  and,  placing  himself  upon  the  throne,  began 
to  harangue  them  tfpon  the  obscurity  of  the  king's  birth, 
and  the  injustice  of  his  title.  While  he  was  yet  speaking, 
Servius  entered,  attended  by  a  few  followers,  and  seeing 
his  throne  thus  rudely  invaded,  offered  to  push  the  usurp- 
er from  his  seat ;  but  Tarquin  being  in  the  vigour  of 
youth,  threw  the  old  man  down  the  steps  which  led  to 
the  throne  ;  and  some  of  his  adherents,  being  instructed 
for  that  purpose,  followed  the  king  as  he  was  feebly  at- 
tempting to  get  to  the  palace,  and  dispatched  him  by 
the  way,  throwing  his  body,  all  mangled  and  bleeding,  as 
a  public  spectacle  into  the  street.  In  the  mean  time, 
Tullia,  burning  with  impatience  for  the  event,  was  in- 
formed of  what  her  husband  hud  done,  and  resolving  U> 
mong  the  first  who  should  salute  him  as  monarch,  or- 
dered her  chariot  to  the  senate  house  :  but  as  her  char- 
ioteer approached  the  place  where  the  old  king  her' 
father's  body  lay  exposed  and  bloody,  the  man,  all  amaz- 
ed at  the  inhuman  spectacle,  and  not  willing  to  trample 
upon  it  with  his  horses,  offered  to  turn  another  way  : 
this  only  served  to  increase  the  fierceness  of  her  anger  ; 
she  threw  the  footstool  at  his  head,  and  ordered  him  to 
drive  over  the  dead  body  without  hesitation. 

This  was  the  end  of  Servius  Tullius,  a  prince  of  em- 
inent justice  and  moderation,  after  an  useful  and  pros- 
perous reign  of  forty-four  years. 

CHAP.  VIII.  ,_„ 

'he  death  of  Servius  Tullius,  to  the  banishment 
of  Tarquinius  Superbus^  the  seventh  and  last  king 
of  Rome. 

[i:.  C.  220.] 

LIUS  Tarquiuius,  afterwards  called  Superbus,  or 
the  proud,  having  placed  himself  upon  the  throne, 
in  consequence  of  this  violent  attempt,  was  resolved  to 


Tin:  HISTORY  or  TIII. 

support  his  d.  n  the  same  violent  :iich 

is  acquired.     Regardless  of  the  senate  or  the  peo- 
ple's approbo-  t  cmed  to  claim  the  cro 

iu.  and  refused  the  late  king's  body  bu 
under  pretence  of  his  being  an  usifrper.     All  the  good 
part  of  mankind,  however,  looked  upon  this  accession 
\vithdetestationandhorror;  and  this  act  of  inefficient 
cruelty  only  served  to  confirm  their  h  ious 

of  this,  he  ordered  all  such  as  he  suspected  to  have  been 
lied  to  Servius  to  be  put  to  deal!  the 

natural  consequences  of  hi  -  he  increased  the 

:id  his  person. 

His  chief  policy  seems  >  keep  the  peo- 

ple )  id  cither  r  public  works,  by 

whi  lie  diverted  the 

lul  ;  :  coming  to  the  crown.  lied 

)  refused  to  pay  him  obedience, 
soon  reduced  them  to  s  i  gan 

r  with  tli  h  continued  for  s» 

aftci  .1  much  more  i 

•ig  attempted  with  some  loss  loin 
he  w  i-d  to  direct  his  efforts 

^ua I  practice  of  the  Ko.  ised 

is  to  counterfeit  desertion,  upon  , 

of  I).  « ,  and  to  e  in- 

studied  1  '.y  of  the 

people,  as  to  be  chosen    tin  : 

rqf Successful,  til! 

into  the  garden,  where  he  cut  dov  him  the 

dily  undcrsto< 
ing  of  th;  ndoncby  one,  found  means  to  destroy 

i.- move  tli  en  of  tlu 

care  to  confix  the  people.    1 

•  i  kept  the  giddy  populace  blind 
«,o  their  appn,  in,  till  they  found  then; 

without  counsellors  or  head,  and  m  the  end  fell 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          23 

der  the  power  of  Tarquin,  without  even  striking  a  blow. 
After  this  he  made  a  league  with  the  jfcqui,  and  renew- 
ed that  with  the  Etrurians. 

But  while  he  was  engaged  in  wars  abroad,  he  took 
care  not  to  suffer  the  people  to  continue  in  idleness  at 
home.  He  undertook  to  build  the  capitol,  the  founda- 
tion of  which  had  been  laid  in  a  former  reign,  and  an. 
extraordinary  event  contributed  to  hasten  the  execution 
of  his  design.  A  woman,  in  strange  attire,  made  her 
appearance  at  Rome,  and  came  to  the  king  offering  to 
sell  nine  books,  which  she  said  wete  of  her  own  com- 
posing. Not  knowing  the  abilities  of  the  seller,  or  that 
in  fact  one  of  the  celebrated  Sybils,  whose  pro- 
phecies were  never  found  to  fail,  Tarquin  refused  to  buy 
them.  Upon  this  she  departed,  and  burning  three  of 
her  books,  returned  again,  demanding  the  same  price 
for  the  six  remaining.  Being  once  more  despised  as  an 
impostor,  she  again  departed,  and  burning  three  more, 
she  returned  with  those  remaining,  still  asking  the  same 
price  as  at  first.  Tarquin,  surprised  at  the  inconsisten- 
cy of  her  behaviour,  consulted  the  augurs,  to  advise  him 
:  to  do.  These  much  blamed  him  for  not  buying 
the  nine,  and  commanded  him  to  buy  the  three  remain- 
ing, at  whatsoever  price  they  were  to  be  had.  The  wo- 
man, says  the  historian,  after  thus  selling  and  delivering 
the  three  prophetic  volumes,  and  advising  him  to  have  a 
special  attention  to  what  they  contained,  vanished  from 
before  him,  and  was  never  seen  after.  Upon  this  he 
chose  proper  persons  to  keep  them,  who,  though  but 
two  at  first,  were  afterwards  increased  to  fifteen,  under 
the  name  of  quindecemviri.  They  were  put  into  a  stone 
chest,  and  a  vault  in  the  newly  designed  building  was 
thought  the  properest  place  to  lodge  them  in  safety. 

The  people  having  been  for  four  years  together  em- 
ployed in  building  the  capitol,  began  at  last  to  wish  for 
something  new  to  engage  them  ;  wherefore  Tarquin,  to 
satisfy  their  wishes,  proclaimed  war  against  the  Rutuli, 
upon  a  frivolous  pretence  of  their  having  entertained 
some  malefactors  v.  horn  he  had  banished,  and  invested 
their  chief  city,  Ardea,  which  lay  about  sixteen  miles 
frojji  Rome.  Whije  the  army  was  encamped  befijre 


THE  HISTORY  Ol-  Tl 

this  place,  the  king's  son,  Sextus,  with  Collatinus,a 
hlc  Roman,  and  some  others,  sat  in  a  lent  drinking 
gether  :  the  discoi:  ning  to  turn  \i\ 

\  virtue  of  tin 

Collatinus  offered  t  :he  dispute,  by  pur 

an  immediate  •  the 

at  that 
.  the  projM 

ed  by  the  whole  c<  ..nd  takii,  ith- 

out  delay,  they  pov 

There  they  found 

c  wife  of  Collatinus,  not  liks  i  of  her 

the  time  mj; 

in  the  midst  of  her  maids,  and  cheerfully  ] 

nil,   that    they    ununini.  e    her   tin 

but  en- 

:rom  the  rarr; 

itiou  \vhich  he   had  met  with  before  in- 

tent; not  susp 

supper,  and  o: 

in  tli 

osom,  threati 

.  if  she  would  :  and 

then  laying  hi  Aild 

.nd  and  killed  them  both    i; 
act  of  adultery.     The  terror  of 

of  death  could  not  obtain  ;  she  consented  to  his  de- 
.  and  the  next  men  -urned  to  the 

In  the  n 
and  resolving  not  to  pa: 

ept  for  her  husband  ' 


COMMONWEATH  OF  ROME.  27 

latinus,  and  for  Spurius  her  father  to  come  to  her,  as 
indelible  disgrace  had  befallen  her  family.  These  ia- 
stantly  obeyed  the  summons,  bringing  with  them  Vale- 
rius, a  kinsman,  of  her  father's,  and  Junius  Brutus,  a 
reputed  icliot,  whose  father  Tarquin  had  murdered,  and 
who  had  accidentally  met  the  messenger  by  the  way. 
Their  arrival  only  served  to  increase  Lucretia's  poign- 
ant anguish  ;  they  fouad  her  in  a  state  of  stedfast  des- 
peration, and  vainly  attempted  to  give  her  relief.  "  No,*' 
said  she,  "  never  shall  I  find  any  thing  worth  living  for 
':  in  this  life  after  having  lost  my  honour.  You  see, 
"  my  Collatinus,  a  polluted  wretch  before  you  ;  one? 
.osc  person  has  been  the  spoil  of  another,  but  whose 
is  were  never  estranged  from  you.  Sextus> 
•c  under  the  pretended  veil  of  friendship,  has  this  night 
"  forced  from  me  that  treasure  which  death  only  can 

lore  ;  but  if  you  have  the  hearts  of  mei^'avenge 
4C  my  cause,  and  let  posterity  know,  that  she^rho  has 
"  lost  her  virtue,  hath  only  death  for  her  best  consola- 
"  lion."  So  saying,  sjie  drew  a  poignard  from  beneath 
her  robe,  and  instantly  plunging  it  into  her  bosom,  ex- 
pired without  a  groan.  The  whole  company  remained 
for  some  time  fixed  in  sorrow,  pity,  and  indignation  ; 
Spurius  and  Collatinus  at  length  gave  a  vent  to  their 
grief  in  tears  ;  but  Brutus  drawing  the  poignard  reek- 
ing from  Lucretia's  wound,  and  lifting  it  up  towards 
heaven,  "  Be  witness,  ye  gods,"  he  cried,  "  that  from 
u  this  moment  I  proclaim  myself  the  avenger  of  the 
4i  chaste  Lucretia's  cause  :  from  this  moment  I  profess 
*'  myself  the  enemy  of  Tarquin  and  his  lustful  house: 

,ri  henceforth  this  life,  while  lite  continues,  shall  be 
.;i ployed  in  opposition  to  tyranny,  and  for  the  happi- 
•;  ness  and  freedom  of  my  much   loved  country."     A, 
new  ama/u-ment  seized  the  hearers,  to  find  him,  whom 
they  had  hitherto  considered  as  an  idiot,  now  appearing 
i:i  his  real  character,  the  friend  of  justice  and  of  Rome- 
lie  told  them  that  tears  and  lamentations  were  unmanly 
ancc  called  so  loud  ;    and  delivering   the 
rnard  to  the  rest,  imposed  the  same  oath  upon  them, 

h  he  himself  had  just  taken. 
Junius  Brutus  was  the  son  of  Marcus  Brutus,  a  noble 


28  THE  HISTORY  OF  TH11 

Koruan,  who  was  married  to  the  daughter  of  Ta? 
niusPriscus;  and  for  that  reason,  through  a  moth 
jeal«,t  pin  to  death  br  Tarquin  the  Proud.  This 

Juiiius  Brutus  hac. 

Cither,  ai; 

inflexible   attachment   to  rinue  ;    ]>•  that 

Tarquin  had  privately  num.-  eld- 

v  '  Mother,  he  counterfeited  hi:. 
escape  the  same  d 
name  of  Brutus. 

an  idiot  in  hi  ;ih  a 

..;  sport  for  his  chi!-. 
Brutus,  hov  1   this   o, 

to  be  brought  out 

exposed  in  the  public  forum,  he  inflamed  the  ardour  of 
the  citiz^Js  I  He 

obtained  a  decree  of  t! 

and  that 

itshouldbcc,  ,ortoatt 

future  rctuni.     T: 
ed  t 

ke  refupc  wi 
Etn. 
truce  with  the  ned   de- 


CH 

• 

T.   form  of  g< 
nin.tlly  repub' 
^cnalc,  houcvc 
i- si  share  of  the  authority  to  themselves,  an< 

poils  of  deposed  mot 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME. 

archy.  The  centuries  of  the  people  chose  from 
the  senators,  instead  of  a  king,  two  annual  magistrate 
whom  they  called  consuls,  with  power  equal  to  that  of 
the  regal,  and  with  the  same  privileges,  and  the  same 
ensigns  of  authority. 

Brutus  the  deliverer  of  his  country,  and  Collatinus, 
the  husband  of  Lucretia,  were  chosen  first  consuls  141 
Rome. 

But  this  new  republic,  however,  which  seemed  so 
grateful  to  the  people,  had  like  to  have  been  destroyed 
in  its  very  commencement.  A  party  was  formed  in 
Rome  in  favour  of  Tarquin.  Some  young  men  of  the 
principal  families  in  the  state,  who  had  been  educated 
about  the  king,  and  had  shared  in  all  the  luxuries  of  the 
court,  undertook  to  re-establish  monarchy.  This  party 
secretly  increased  every  day  ;  and  what  may  create  owr 
surprise,  the  sons  of  Brutus  himself,  and  the  Aquilii, 
the  nephews  of  Collatinus,  were  among  the  number. 
Tarquin,  who  was  informed  of  these  intrigues  in  his 
favour,  sent  ambassadors  from  Etruriato  Rome,  under  a 
pretence  of  reclaiming  the  crown,  but  in  reality  with  a 
design  to  give  spirit  to  his  faction.  But  the  whole  con- 
spiracy was  discovered  by  a  slave  who  had  accidentally 
hid  himself  in  the  room  where  the  conspirators  used  to 
assemble.  Few  situations  could  have  been  more  terribly 
affecting  than  that  of  Brutus,  a  father,  placed  as  a  judge 
upon  the  life  and  death  of  his  own  children,  impelled 
by  justice  to  condemn,  and  by  nature  to  spare  them. 
The  young  men  accused  pleaded  nothing  for  themselves, 
but,  with  conscious  guilt,  awaited  the  sentence  in  si- 
lence and  agony.  The  other  judges  who  were  present, 
felt  all  the  pangs  of  nature  ;  Collatinus  wept,  and  Va- 
lerius could  not  repress  his  sentiments  of  pity.  Brutus, 
alone,  seemed  to  have  lost  all  the  softness  of  humanity, 
and  with  a  stern  countenance,  and  a  tone  of  voice  that 
marked  his  gloomy  resolution,  demanded  of  his  sons,  if 
they  could  make  any  defence  to  the  cr'^es  with  which 
they  had  been  charged.  This  demand  he  made  three 
several  times  ;  but?  receiving  no  answer,  he  at  length 
turned  himself  to  the  executioner  :  '*  Now,"  cried  he, 
"  it  is  your  part  to  perform  the  rest."  Thus  saying,  he 
C  2 


THE  HISTORY  OF  TIi 

.m  resumed  his  scat  with  an  air  of  determined  ma- 
.  ;  nor  coul.l  all  the  sentiments  of  puv  ,nor 

all  the  imploring:  looks  of  the  people,  nor  yet  the 

cution,  niter  the  .solution  .ecu- 

tioi  <.ed,  and  then  i*  flipped 

tly.;  .  iiius 

all  the  time  beholding 

look  ihe  multitude 

-Ii  all  the  sensations  of  i< 

All   J  59  of  an  insurrection  in  the  city   in 

verthrown,  he  was  nov 

to  force  himself  upon  his  former  tkrone  by  f<.. 
sistuncc.  :cd  upon  the   \ 

xanoed  to- 

U  C 

ty.f-  -V   foOt) 

wcntou  ii><raan  bo: 

, 

father,  sccirv  v  one 

grc 

Brutus, 
the  ra.r. 

1  upon  t:  \i;ether.     A  bloody 

on  lx)th  sides  ;  but 
i  of  the  field  of  bat- 
tle, claimed  ;  -lerius  re- 
turned in  triumph  to  Pv 

In  the  mean  time,  Tarquin,  no  way  intimidated  by 
his  jnisfortuncs,  prevailed  upon  Porscnna,  one  of  the 

.rij,  to  espouse  his  cause,  and    in  pc 

is  quarrel.     This  prince,  equally  noted  for 

courage  and  conduct,  marched  directly  to  Rome,  with 

:  seige  to  the  <  .   the 

•  h^  arms  lilted  all  ranks  of  peo- 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          s* 

pie  with  dismay.  The  seige  was  carried  on  with  vf- 
gour  ;  a  furious  attack  was  made  upon  the  place  ;  the 
two  consuls  opposed  in  vain,  and  were  carried  off  wound- 
ed from  the  field  ;  wkile  the  Romans,  flying  in  great 
consternation,  were  pursued  by  the  enemy  to  the  bridge;, 
over  which,  both  victors  and  vanquished  were  about  to 
enter  the  city  in  the  confusion.  All  now  appeared  lost 
and  over,  when  Horatius  Codes,  who  had  been  placed 
there  as  a  centincl  to  defend  it,  opposed  himself  to  the 
torrent  of  tine  enemy,  and  assisted  only  by  two  more, 
Sbr  some  rime  sustained  the  whole  fury  of  the  assault, 
till  the  bridge  was  broken  down  behind  him  :  when  he 
found  the  communication  thus  cut  off,  plunging  with  hie 
arms  into  the  torrent  of  the  Tyber,  he  swam  back  vic- 
torious to  his  fellow  soldiers,  and  was  received  with  just 
applause. 

Still,  however,  Porsenna  was  determined  upon  taking 
the  city  ;  and  though  five  hundred  of  his  men  were  slain 
in  a  sally  "of  the  Romans,  he  reduced  it  to  the  greatest 
straits  ;  and  turning  the  seige  into  a  blockade,  resolved 
to  take  it  by  famine.  The  distress  of  the  besieged  soon 
,n  to  be  insufferable,  and  all  things  seemed  to  threat- 
en a  speedy  surrender,  when  another  act  of  fierce  bra- 
very, still  superior  to  that  which  had  saved  the  city  be- 
fore, again  procured  its  safety  and  freedom. 

Mutius,  a  youth  of  undaunted  courage,  was  resolved 
to  rid  his  country  of  an  enemy  that  so  sorely  continued 
to  oppress  it ;  and  for  this  purpose,  disguised  in  the  . 
habit  of  an  Etrurian  peasant,  entered  the  camp  of  the 
enemy,  resolving  to  die  or  to  kill  the  king.  With  this 
resolution  he  made  up  to  the  place  where  Porsenna  was 
paying  his  troops,  with  a  secretary  by  his  side  j  but  mis. 
taking  the  latter  for  tfce  king,  he  stabbed  him  to  the 
heart,  and  was  immediately  apprehended  and  brought 
back  into  the  royal  presence.  Upon  Porsenna's  demand- 
ing who  he  was,  and  the  cause  of  so  henious  an  action, 
Muiius,  without  reserve,  informed  him  of  his  country 
apd  his  des%n,  and  at  the  same  time  thrusting  his  right 
hand  into  a  fire  that  was  bunfiii^p  upon  the  altar  before 
him,  "  You  see,"  cried  he,  "ho\r  little  I  reg&d  the  se- 
<«  vGce&t  punhxbpaent  yoirr  cruelty  can  inflict  upon  mfiv 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Roman  knows  not  only  how  to  act,  but  to  suffer  > 
m  not  the  onl .  'un' 

^cme,  haveconspii 
.ciion  ;  th  rcpare  for  the  i 

mind  not  to   acknowledge  merit,  though  found    in 
:i  ere  fore  «  uniober- 

s  of 
.be- 
ing neither  hard  no; 

iieii,  and 
une-     B' 
!  the  gent  '<->  be 

ing  out  tin 

•  •n  horse!  fs  of 

darti>  from  tl: 
sul. 

tnc  tic  should 

in  iderfourt< 

that  their  te:  mln£  thc 

viin,  by  means  of!;  ;llus>  ° 

more  stirred  up  thc  Latins  to  e 
took  thc  mosi  tea  the  pWH 

ians  \ 


l«iIlS     \VCIC    ttl      »«1I*»»'V-*^     wvmmm 

payment  of  their  used  to  g' 

unless  their  debts  w<  »  so 

that  the  ci-  their  authoritj 

fered  the  people  to  elect  a  temp< 

should  ha -.  e  power,  not  only  over  all  i 

irstherosel 
plebeian  readily  con^  Uling  to  giv«   up  tl 

,  pol^for  the-saN^fabri(-  >pe- 

riors.     ^Consequence  of  th: 
first,  dictator  of  Rome  ;  :  l  °&ce  c  • 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME. 

being  nominated  to  it  by  his  colleague  in  the  consulship. 
Thus  the  people,  who  could  not  bear  to  hear  the  name 
of  king  even  mentioned,  readily  submitted  to  a  magis- 
trate possessed  of  much  greater  power  :  so  much  do 
the  names  of  things  mislead  us,  and  so  little  is  any  form 

;vernment  irksome  to  people  when  it  coincides -with 

.•  prejudices. 


CHAP.  X. 

if  the  first  Dictator,  to  the  c/ 
of  tii c  Tribunes  of  the  people. 
[U.  C.  255.] 

LARGIUS  being  now  created  dictator,  entered  upon 
his  office,  surrounded  with  his  lictors,  and  all  the 
ensigns  of  ancient  royalty,  and  seated  upon  a  throne  in 
the  midst  of  the  people,  ordered  the  levies  to  be  made 
in  the  manner  of  the  kings  of  Rome.  The  populace 
looked  with  terror  upon  a  magistrate  whom  they  had  in- 
vested with  uncontrollable  power,  and  peaceably  went 
each  to  range  himself  under  ins  respective  su-.nclard. 
Thus  going  forth  to  oppose  the  enemy,  he  returned 
•with  ,  before  his  six  months  were  expired, 

laid  down  the  d  :ip,  with  the  reputation  of  having 

exercised  it  with  ;  lenity. 

But  though  for  thib  time  the  people  submitted  to  be 
led  forth,  yet  '  v>lvcd  at  last  to  free  them* 

selves  from  the  yo^e  of  their  severe  masters  ;  :\ud  ?!:< 
they  coul  their  con, plaints  redrew  d,  yet  they 

determined  to  fly  from  those  whom  they  could  not  iv.ove 
to  compassion.  The  complaints,  therefore,  continuing, 
they  resolved  to  quit  a  city  which  gave  them  no  shelter, 
and  to  form  a  new  establishment  without  its  limits, 
They  therefore,  under  the  conduct  of  a  plebeian,  named 
Sicinius  Bellutus,  retired  to  a  mountain,  from  thence 
called  Mons  Sacer,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Anio,  with- 
in about  three  miles  from  Rome. 

Upon  the  news  of  this  defection,  the  city  was  filled 
tumult  and  consternation  ;  those  who  wished  wcH 


Til 

to  the  army  made  all  the  attempts  they  could 

the  walls  in  order  to  jwin  it.     The  senate  was  not  ! 

i  Cb, 

e  by  forci  ion 

sucli  em: 
length,  in 

the  army  to   return  home 

..1!  th 

of  ti.  •  >rs,  uas ;  i  hat 

It  \vi-.s  the::  .^ith 

huuld  in- 
••  tliem  to  ri'turn.       i  '  accord- 

'•'hc 

Larpiuii 

the  one 

e  the 

n  of  the  ^ses 

with  all  '  id  of 

hud  been 

1  to  revo 
belly  ;  th 

in  tl 

and   indolent!-, 

The  feet  vo'.ved  thcv  v  ouK! 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          35 

<«•* 

the  hands  vowed  they  would  feed  it  no  longer  ;  and  the 
teeth  avcrcd  they  would  not  chew  a  morsel  of  meat 
though  it  were  placed  between  them.  Thus  resolved, 
they  all  for  some  time  shewed  their  spirit,  and  kept  their 
word  ;  but  soon  they  found,  that  instead  of  mortifying 
the  belly  by  these  means,  they  only  undid  themselves  ; 
they  languished  for  a  while,  and  perceived  when  too 
late,  that  it  was  owing  to  the  belly  that  they  had  strength 
to  work,  or  courage  to  mutiny." 

This  fable,  the  application  of  which  is  obvious,  had 
an  instantaneous  effect  upon  the  people.  They  unani- 
mously cried  out  that  Agrippa  should  lead  them  back  to 
,c  ;  and  were  making  preparations  to  follow  him, 
when  Lucius  Junius,  before  mentioned,  withheld  them  ; 
alledging,  that  though  they  were  gratefully  to  acknow- 
ledge the  kind  offers  of  the  senate,  yet  they  had  no  safe- 
guard for  the  future  against  their  resentment  ;  that 
therefore  it  was  necessary  for  the  security  of  the  people, 
to  have  certain  officers  created  annually  from  among 
themselves,  who  should  have  power  to  give  such  of  them 
hould  be  injured  redress,  and  plead  the  cause  of 
the  community. 

The  people,  who  arc  ever  of  opinion  with  the  last 
speaker,  highly  applauded  this  proposal  ;  which  yet  the 
commissioners  had  not  power  to  comply  with  ;  they 
therefore  sent  to  Rome  to  take  the  instructions  of  the 
senate,  who,  worried  with  divisions  among  themselves, 
and  harrassed  by  complaints  from  without,  were  resolv- 
ed to  have  peace  at  whatsoever  price  it  should  be  obtain- 
ed ;  accordingly,  as  if  with  one  voice,  they  consented 
to  the  creation  of  their  new  officers,  who  were  called 
Tribunes  of  the  Peofile,  Appius  alone  protesting  with  ve- 
hemence against  the  measure. 

The  tribunes  of  the  people  were  at  first  five  in  num- 
ber, though  afterwards  their  body  was  increased  to  five 
more,  they  were  always  annually  elected  by  the  people, 
and  almost  always  from  their  body.  They  at  first  had 
their  seats  placed  before  the  door  of  the  senate-house, 
and  being  called  in,  they  were  to  examine  every  decree, 
annulling  it  by  the  word  veto,  I  forbid  it;  or  confirm- 
ing it  by  signing  the  letter  /',  which  gave  it  its  validity 


rill-.  HISTORY  Oi 

Ti|L 

This  new  office  being  thus  istitutcd, 
Lucius  Juiuu- 

ga,  were  the  iirsi  tribunes  chosen  by  t:  ;  the 

people.     The  senate  a;  an  edict  c 

abolition  of  debts  ;   and  now   all  tilings   bt 
both  on  the  Q  ad  tlic   oilier,   Uu 

ned 
jncc  more  in  triumph  to  Rome. 


:M,  to  the  apj> 

60.] 

D! 

on  any  but  tin  the  \vliolc  ot": 

tre^-  ;>ur- 

out  'a^e.     li 

c  Heel  ol 
wit! 

Ion,  the 

lie  n 

Hut  < 

uld  not 
of  t: 
summoned  him  to  a  trial  before  the  people. 

When  the  app  .  il  person^ 

filled  with  tin 
course  from 

before  the  pei 

ited  better  foriuivj.     Hi- graceful    p 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          ,/ 

eloquence,  the  cries  of  those  whom  he  had  saved 
from  the  enemy,  inclined  the  auditors  to  relent.  But 
be-ing  unable  to  answer  what  was  alledged  against  him 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  and  utterly  confounded 
with  a  new  charge,  of  having  embezzled  the  plunder  of 
Amium,  the  tribunes  immediately  took  the  votes,  and 
Coriolanus  was  condemned  to  perpetual  exile. 

This  sentence  against  their  bravest  defender  struck 
the  whole  body  of  the  senate  with  sorrow,  consterna- 
tion and  regret.  Coriolanus  alone,  in  the  midst  of  the 
tumult,  seemed  an  unconcerned  spectator.  He  return- 
ed home,  followed  by  the  lamentations  of  hundreds  of 
the  most  respectable  senators  and  citizens  of  Rome,  to 
take  a  lasting  leave  of  his  wife,  his  children,  and  his 
mother,  Veturia.  Thus  recommending  his  little  chil- 
dren to  their  care,  and  all  to  the  care  of  heaven,  he  left 
city  without  followers  or  fortune,  to  take  refuge 
with  Tullus  Attius,  a  man  of  great  power  among  the 
Volscians,  who  took  him  under  his  protection,  and  es- 
poused his  quarrel. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done,  was  to  induce  the  Volsci 
10  break  the  league  which  had  been  made  with  Rome, 
and  for  this  purpose,  Tullus  sent  many  of  his  citizens 
thither,  in  order  to  see  some  games  at  that  time  cele- 
'jrating  ;  but  in  the  mean  time  gave  the  senate  private 
information  that  the  strangers  had  dangerous  intentions 
of  burning  the  city.  This  had  the  desired  effect;  the 
senate  issued  an  order,  that  all  strangers,  whoever  they 
were,  should  depart  from  Rome  before  sunset.  This 
order  Tullus  represented  to  his  countrymen  as  an  in- 
ion  of  the  treaty,  and  procured  an  embassy  to  Rome, 
plaining  of  the  breach,  and  re-demanding  all  the 
territories  belonging  to  the  Volscians,  of  which  they 
Seen  violently  dispossessed,  declaring  war  in  case 
of  a  refusal :  but  this  message  was  treated  by  the  senate 
with  contempt. 

War  being  thus  declared  on  both  sides,  Coriolanus 
and  Tullus  were  made  generals  of  the  Volscians,  and 
accordingly,  invaded  the  Roman  territories,  ravaging 
and  laying  waste  all  such  lands  as  belonged  to  the  ple- 
but  letting  those  of  the  senators  remain 


THE  HISTORY  Oi 

In  the  mean  time  the  :»t  on  but 

•.lie.     The 
people,  seemed  but  little  skilled  in  v 

.counter  a  %c\ 

perior  in  the  field.     The  ;i! 
it  in  their 

continued  to  take  their 
une  followed  him  '. 
umous   { 

. 
r  at  lenpth  i: 

<i  he 

not  : 

'.cd  them  but  t! 

the 
11  in 
:ul  him  sc 

c   up   the   con  ;ujr 

I,  with  women  nnd 

ers  for  the  prt  ,;circouiv 

to  be  seen  but 

.«s  suggested  to  them,  that  what  could  notbeefT< 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          39 

cd  by  the  intercession  of  the  senate,  or  the  adjuration  of 
:hc  priests,  might  be  brought  about  by  the  tears  of  his 
wife,  or  the  commands  of  his  mother.  This  deputation 
seemed  to  be  relished  by  all  ;  and  even  the  senate  itself 
gave  it  the  sanction  of  their  authority.  Veturia,  the 
motherof  Coriolanus,  at  first  made  some  hesitation  to 
undertake  so  pious  a  work,  knowing  the  inflexible  tem- 
per of  her  son,  and  fearing  only  to  shew  his  disobedience 
in  a  new  point  of  light,  by  rejecting  the  commands  of  a 
parent :  however,  she  r.t  last  undertook  the  embassy, 
and  set  forward  from  the  city,  accompanied  by  many  of 
the  principal  matrons  of  Rome,  will!  Volumnia  his  wife, 
and  his  two  children.  Coriolanus,  who  at  a  distance 
discovered  this  mournful  train  of  females,  was  resolved 

ivc  them  a  denial,  imd  called  his  (.'fficcrs  around 
him  to  be  \vitncsses  of  his  resolution  ;  but,  when  told 

iiis  mother  and  his  wife  were  among  the  number, 

istantly  came  down  from  his  tribunal  to  meet  and 
embrace  them.  At  first,  the  women's  tears  and  embra- 
ces took  away  the  power  of  words  ;  and  the  rough  sol- 
dier himself,  hard  as  he  was,  could  not  refrain  from 
sharing  in  their  distress.  Coriolanus  now  seemed  much 
agitated  by  contending  passions  ;  while  his  mother,  who 
econded  her  words  by  the  most  per- 

ive  eloquence,  her  tears  ;  his  wife  and  children 
hung  round  him,  entreating  for  protection  and  pity; 
while  her  fair  train,  her  companions)  added  their  la- 
mentations, and  deplored  their  own  and  their  country's 
.us  for  a  moment  was  silent,  feeling 
the  :  uflict  between  honour  and  inclination  ;  at 

length  ;  as  if  roused  from  his  dream  ;  he  flew  tp  take 
up  his  mother,  who  had  fallen  at  his  feet,  crying  out, 

iiy  mother,  thou  hast  saved  Rome,  but  lost  thy  son." 
He  B  dera  to  draw  oil' the  army,  pre- 

tending to  the  officers  that  the  city  was  too  strong  to  be 

Tullus,  who  had  long  envied  his  glory,  was  not  re- 
in aggravating  the  lenity  of  his  conduct  to  his  coun- 
.cn.     Upon  their  return,  Coriolanus  was  slain  in  an 
'.ion  of  the  people,  and   afterwards  honourably 
•  -h  late  and  ineffectual  repentance. 


40  THI:  HISTORY  OF  TK 

i  and  many  were  the  public  rejoicings  at  Home 
upon  the  retreat  of  tin 
i  led  soon  after  by  • 
who 
the  peoj  .  umber  c: 

! 

nlius  an-.! 
to  appear  bet- 

pie, 

. 

,>1  retirei! 
of  the  senate  found  him  holi 

-it  little  c! 

t  to 

the  I 

11  ti!' 

. 

• 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  *; 

a  terror  to  the  multitude  whenever  they  refused  to  en- 
list ;  and  their  greatest  encourager  whenever  their  sub- 
mission deserved  it,  Thus,  having  restored  that  tran- 
quility  to  the  people  which  he  so  much  loved  himself, 
he  again  gave  up  the  splendours  of  ambition,  to  enjoy 
It  with  a  greater  relish  in  his  little  farm. 
,j  ~  Cincinnatus  was  not  long  retired  from  hi.s 
0'  '  office,  when  a  fresh  exigence  of  the  state  once 
more  required  his  assistance  ;  the  ,/E.qui  and 
the  Volsci,  who,  though  still  worsted,  still  were  for  re- 
newing the  war,  made  new  inroads  into  the  territories 
of  Rome.  Minutius,  one  of  the  consuls  who  succeeded 
Cincinnatus,  was  sent  to  oppose  them  ;  but  being  natu- 
rally timid,  and  rather  more  afraid  of  being  conquered 
than  desirous  of  victory,  his  army  was  driven  into  a  de- 
file between  two  mountains,  from  which,  except  through 
the  enemy,  there  was  no  egress.  This,  however,  the 

;i  had  the  precaution  to  fortify,  by  which  the  Ro- 
man army  was  so  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  that  noth- 
ing remained  but  submission  to  the  enemy,  famine,  or 
immediate  death.  Some  knights  who  found  means  of 
getting  away  privately  through  the  enemy's  camp,  were 

irst  who  brought  the  account  of  this  disaster  to  Rome. 

/ing  could  exceed  the  consternation  of  all  ranks  of 
people  when  informed  of  it :  the  senate  at  first  thought 
of  the  other  consul ;  but  not  having  sufficient  experience 
of  his  abilities,  they  unanimously  turned  their  eyes  upon 
Cincinnatus,  and  resolved  to  make  him  dictator.  Cin- 
cinnatus, the  only  person  on  whom  Rome  could  now 
place  her  whole  dependence,  was  found,  as  before,  by 
the  messengers  of  the  senate,  labouring  in  his  little  field 
with  cheerful  industry.  He  was  at  first  astonished  at 
the  ensigns  of  unbounded  power,  with  which  the  depu- 
ties came  to  invest  him  ;  but  still  more  at  the  approach 
of  the  principal  of  t#e  senate,  who  came  out  to  meet  him . 
A  dignity  so  unlooked  for,  however,  had  no  effect  upon 
the  simplicity  or  the  integrity  of  his  manners  :  and  be- 
ing now  possessed  of  absolute  power,  and  called  upon  to 
nominate  his  master  of  the  horse,  he  chose  a  poor  man, 
named  Tarquitius,  one  who  like  himself  despised  riches 
when  they  led  to  dishonour.  Thus  the  saving  a  great 
D  2 


the  plough,  anil  an  ;1  among  the 

\  ho 
; ore  sunsc 

\viiii 
nut  i 

. 

• 

deli> 

;ncd  Ihc 
;,ut  he  dccUncd  their 


Jers,  chusing  to 

>    ILlllVJ     «»*»B»9      W«»»       »«^       •—— •  — ^m 

temperance  a'. 

But  this  't  invabion  did 

•umultsc:  ourb  for  lhe 

.till  contuiuccl,and  still  more  fierce 
Dentatus,  a  plebeian,  advanced 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          43 

admirable  person  and  military  deportment,  came 
forward  to  enumerate  his  hardships  and  his  merits. 
This  old  soldier  made  no  scruple  of  extolling  the  vari- 
ous achievements  of  his  youth  :  but  indeed  his  merits 
supported  ostentation.  Me  had  served  his  country  in  the 
wars  forty  years  ;  he  hail  been  an  officer  thirty,  first  a 

•rion,  and  then  a  tribune  ;  he  had  fought  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  battles ;  in  which  by  the  force  of  his 
single  arm,  he  had  saved  a  multitude  of  lives  ;  he  had 
gained  fourteen  civic,  three  mural,  and  eight  golden 

us,  besides  eighty-three  chains, sixty  bracelets, eigh- 
teen gilt  speurs,  and  twenty-three  horse  trappings, 
whereof  nine  were  for  killing  the  enemy  in  single  com- 
bat :  moreover  he  had  received  forty-five  wounds,  all 
before,  and  none  behind.  These  were  his  honours  ;  yet 
notwithstanding  all  this,  he  had  never  received  any  share 
of  those  lands  which  were  won  from  the  enemy  >  but  con- 
tinued to  draw  on  a  life  of  poverty  and  contempt,  while 
others  were  possessed  of  those  very  territories  which  his 
valour  had  won,  without  any  merit  to  deserve  them,  or 
ever  having  contributed  to  the  conquest.  A  case  of  so 
much  hardship  had  a  strong  effect  upon  the  multitude  : 
they  unanimously  demanded  that  the  law  might  be  pas- 
sed, and  that  such  merit  should  not  go  unrewarded.  It 
was  in  vain  that  some  of  the  senators  rose  up  to  speak 
against  it ;  their  voices  were  drowned  by  the  cries  of  tne 
people.  When  reason  therefore  could  no  longer  be 
heard,  passion,  as  usual,  succeeded  ;  and  the  young  pa- 
tricians running  furiously  into  the  throng,  broke  the 
balloting  urns,  and  dispersed  the  multitude  that  offered 
VD  oppose  them.  For  this  they  were  some  time  after- 
wards fined  by  the  tribunes,  but  their  resolution  never. 
?s  for  the  present  put  off  the  Agrarian  law. 


THE  HISTORY  Ol    T» 

From  the  creation  of  the  Decemviri,  to  : 
oft,1 

THE commoD wealth  of 
>een  fluct  n   the  c<< 

ordc 

ere  \villi;  c  from  th 

began  to  COM. 

:i   being  k 
vcni 
senate  and  the  people  concurred 

would  put  an  end  to  the  coran 

the  state.     It  was 

lon»  should  be  sent  to  tl 

and  to  Athcnst  to  bring  home  su 

:i  found  most  t 
;»osc  three  senators. 
I>icius,  and   >' 

to  the  n  '  the 

;  I'oplc.     AVhi'-  ,  re  upon  • 

a  dreadful  plague  depo; 
home,  and  suppli< 

than  that 
uboi. 
:urr.i  .  the 

ear^  Ito 

terxs  ards  formed  into  ten  tables,  and  two  me 
made  that  celebrated  code,  called  the  laws  of  tin 
Tables,  many  fragments  of  which  remain  to 

The  ambassadors  were  no  sooner  returned,  than  the 
mes  required  that  a  body  of  men  should  be  chosen 
to  digest  their  new  laws  into  proper  form,  and  to 
weight  to  the  execution  of  them.     After  long  del 

:her  this  choice  should  not  be  partly  made  from  the 
people  as  well  as  the  patricians,  it  was  at  last  agn 


COMMONWEALTH  OP  ROME. 

that  ten  of  the  principal  senators  should  be  elected, 
whose  power,  continuing  for  a  year,  should  be  equal  to 
that  of  kings  and  consuls,  and  that  without  any  appeal, 
The  persons  chosen  were  Appius  and  Genutius,  who  had 
been  elected  consuls  for  the  ensuing  year  ;  Posthumius, 
Sulpicius,  and  Manjlus,  the  three  ambassadors  ;  Sextus 
and  Romulus,  former  consuls  ;  with  Julius,  Velurius, 
and  Horatius,  senators  of  the  first  consideration.  Thus 

whole  constitution  of  the  state  at  once  took  a  new 
form,  and  a  dreadful  experiment  was  going  to  be  tried, 
of  governing  one  nation  by  laws  formed  from  the  man- 
ners and  customs  of  another. 

The  decemviri,  being  now  invested  with  absolute  pow- 

greed  to  take  the  reins  of  government  by  turns,  and 
ihat  each  should  dispense  justice  for  a  day. 

These  magistrates  for  the  first  year  wrought  with  ex- 

ie  application  ;  and  their  work  being  finished,  it  v,  us 
expected  that  they  would  be  contented  to  give  up  their 
offices;  but  having  known  the  charms  of  power,  they 
were  now  unwilling  to  resign  it ;  they  therefore  pre- 
tended that  some  laws  were  yet  wanting  to  complete 
their  design,  and  entreated  the  senate  for  a  continuance 

.t-ir  offices  ;  to  which  that  body  assented. 

it  they  soon  threw  off'  the  mask  of  moderation,  and 

vclless  either  of  the  approbation  of  the  senate  or  the 
people,  resolved  to  continue  themselves,  against  all  or- 
der, in  the  decemvirate.  A  conduct  so  notorious  pro- 
duced discontents,  and  these  were  as  sure  to  produce 
fresh  acts  of  tyranny.  The  city  was  become  almost  a 
desert  with  respect  to  all  who  had  any  thing  to  lose, 

•_he  decemvirs'  rapacity  was  then  only  discontinued, 
:i led  fresh  objects  to  exercise  it  upon.     In 
this  state  of  slavery,  proscription,  and  mutual  distrust, 
not  one  citizen  was  found  to  stiike  for  his  country's  free- 
dom ;  these  tyrants  continued  to  rule  without  control, 
istantly  guarded,  not  with  their  lictors  alone, 
>ut  a  numerous  crowd  of  dependents,  clients,  and  even 
patricians,  whom  their  vices  had  confederated   round 
i  hem. 

In  this  gloomy  situation  of  the  state,  the  jEqui  and 

ci,  those  constant  enemies  of  the  Romans,  under- 

* 


ORY  O! 

tfteir  incursions,  resolved  to  profit  by  the 
ions  of  the  people. 

i  the  dec-  ;he 

rnili'  ,  of  the  »  i 

the 

out 
nong 

gClU- 

.:»  the  nu- 

- 

doit  i  r,  he  was 

:  jrce  the 

the 

\there  hi 

.. 
.nipinent 

.M  Ion 5 be. 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROML.  47 

the  vengeance  of  the  decemviri,  and  who  now  engaged 
to  murder  him,  though  with  all  those  apprehensions, 
which  his  reputation,  as  he  was  called  the  Reman  Achil- 
les, might  be  supposed  to  inspire.     With  these  designs 
they  led  him  from  the  way  into  the  hollow  bosom  of  a 
retired  mountain,  where  they  began  to  set  upon  him 
from    behind.  "Dcntatus  now    too  late   perceived   the 
treachery  of  the  Decemviri,  and  was  resolved  to  sell  his 
life  as  dearly  as  he  could  ;  he  therefore  put  his  back  to 
a  rock,  and  defended  himself  against  those  who  pressed 
most  closely.     Though  now  grown  old,  he  had  still  the 
remains  of  his  former  valour,  and   killed  no  less  than 
fifteen  of  the  assailants,  and  wounded  thirty  with  his 
own  hand.     The  assassins  now  therefore  terrified  at  his 
/ing  bravery,  showered  in  their  javelins  upon  him 
at  a  distance,  all  which  he  received  in  his  shield  with  un- 
daunted resolution.     The   combat,  though  so  unequal 
in  numbers,  was  managed  for  some  time  with  doubtful 
success,  till  at  length  his  assailants  bethought  themselves 
of  ascending  the  rock  against  which  he  stood,  and  thus 
poured  down  stones  upon  him  from  above.     This  suc- 
ceeded, the  old  soldier  fell  beneath  their  united  efforts, 
after  having  shewn,  by  his  death,  that  he  owed  it  to  his 
fortitude,  and  not  his  fortune,  that  he  had  come  off'  so 
many  times  victorious.     The  decemviri  pretended  to 
join  in  the  general  sorrow  for  so  brave  a  man,  and  de- 
creed him  a  funeral   with  the  first  military   honours  ; 
but  the  greatness  of  their  apparent  distress,  compared 
with  their  known  hatred,  only  rendered  them  still  more 
detestable  to  the  people. 

But  a  transaction  still  more  atrocious  than  the  former, 
seived  to  inspire  the  citizens  with  a  resolution  to  jii'eak 
all  measures  of  obedience,  and  at  last  to  restore  freedom. 
Appius,  who  still  remained  at  Rome,  sitting  one  day 
on  his  tribunal  to  dispense  justi*  maiden  of  ex- 

quisite beauty,  and  aged  about  fifteen,  passing  to  one 
of  the  public  schools,  attended  by  a  matron,  her  nurse. 
The  gharms  of  this  damsel,  heightened  by  all  the  inno- 
cence of  virgin  modesty,  caught  his  attention,  and  fired 
his  heart.  The  day  following  as  she  passed,  he  found 
her  still  more  beautiful  than  before,  and  *as  breast  still 


48  THK  HISTORY  OF 

more  inflamed.     He  now  therefore  resolved  i 

the  gratification  of  his 

consequence,  and  fouix. 

virgin's  name  and   family. 

she  was  the  daughter  a  ccntin  i 

with  the  army  in  the  : 

Icil ius.  formerly  a  tribune  oi 

to  marry  her  at  the  end  of  the  present  can 

pins  at  first  resolved  to  break  thi 

her  himself;  but  the  laws  of  the   i 

bidden  the  patricians  to  inter  ;ih  the  \>\ 

and  he  could  not  infringe  these,  as  In 

of  them.     Nothin 

enjoyment,  which 

police  of  his  ,  lie  resolved  to    < 

tried  to  corrupt  th 
he  had  recourse  to  another  expo/' 
He  pitched  upon  one  Clam.' 
minister  of  his  pleasures,  to  assert  ti 

'•      iiidius  behave  i 

.-actions,  for  entering  into  the  sch 

;nong  her  female 
upon  her  as  his  p 

y  by  force,  bui 
together  by  In- 
oppositioi 
•ribunal  of  Appius,  and  ther< 

ions.     He  asserted  that  she  v. 

ho  sold  her  to   the   wife  of  \ 
iuul  been 

dences   to  prove  the  truth  of  what   : 
until  they  (  ould  come   together, 

•  should  be  di  1  0  his  cus: 

per  master.     Appius  seemed  to  be  struck  with  the  jus- 
tice of  hi-  he  observed,  that  if  the   repute-. 
ther  himself  were  present,  he  might  indeed  be  willi; 
delay  the  delivery  of  the  maiden  for  some  lime,  but 
it  was  not  lawful  for  him,  in  the  present  C4 
her  from  her  lawful  master.    He  therefore  adju 
to  Claudius,  as  his  slave,  to  be  kept  by  him  till 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  49 

us  should  be  able  to  prove  his  paternity.  This  sentence 
was  received  with  loud  clamours  and  reproaches  by  the 
multitude  :  the  women  in  particular  came  round  the  in- 
nocent Virginia,  as  if  willing  to  protect  her  from  the 
judge's  fury,  while  Icilius,  her  lover,  boldly  opposed  the 
decree,  and  obliged  Claudius  to  take  refuge  under  the 
tribunal  of  the  decemvir.  All  things  now  threatened 
an  open  insurrection,  when  Appius,  fearing  the  event, 
thought  proper  to  suspend  his  judgment  till  the  arrival 
of  Yirginius,  who  was  then  about  eleven  miles  from 
Rome  with  the  army.  The  day  following  was  tixed  for 
the  trial,  and  in  the  mean  time  Appius  sent  letters  to  the 
generals  to  confine  Virginius,  as  his  arrival  in  town 
might  only  serve  to  kindle  sedition  among  the  people. 
These  letters,  however,  were  intercepted  by  the  centu- 
rion's friends,  who  sent  him  down  a  full  relation  of  the 
design  laid  against  the  liberty  and  the  honour  of  his  on- 
ly daughter.  Virginius  upon  this  pretending  the  death 
of  a  near  relation,  got  permission  to  leave  the  camp,  and 
flew  to  Rome,  inspired  vrith  indignation  and  revenge. 
Accordingly  the  next  day,  he  appeared  before  the  tribu- 
nal, to  the  astonishment  of  Appius,  leading  his  weep- 
ing daughter  by  the  hand,  both  habited  in  the  deepest 
•mourniog.  Claudius,  the  accuser,  was  also  there,  and 
began  by  making  his  demand.  Virginius  next  spoke  in 
turn  ;  he  represented  that  his  wife  had  many  children  ; 
that  she  had  been  seen  pregnant  by  numbers ;  that  if  he 
had  intentions  of  adopting  a  suppositious  child,  he  would 
have  fixed  upon  a  boy  rather  than  a  girl ;  that  it  was  no- 
torious to  all  that  his  wife  had  herself  suckled  her  own 
child  ;  and  that  it  was  surprising  such  a  claim  should  be 
now  revived  after  a  fifteen  years  discontinuance.  While 
the  father  spoke  this  with  a  stern  air,  Virginia  stood 
trembling  by,  and  with  looks  of  persuasive  innocence, 
added  weight  to  all  his  remonstrances.  The  people 
seemed  entirely  satisfied  of  the  hardship  of  his  case,  till 
Appius,  fearing  what  he  said  might  have  dangerous  ef- 
fects upon  the  multitude,  interrupted  him,  under  a  pre- 
tence of  being  sufficiently  instructed  in  the  merits  of  the 
cause  "Yes,"  say  she,  "  my  conscience  obliges  me  to 
"  declare,  that  I  myself  am  witness  to  the  truth  of  the 


THE  HISTORY  OF  TI 

*:  deposition  of  Claudius.     Most  of  this  assembly  know, 
'«  that  I  was  left  guardian  to  this  youth  ;  and  I 
4'  ry  early  apprized  that  he  had  a  right  to  this  young 
''  woman  ;  but  the  affairs  of  the  public*  and  tin 
"  tions  of  the  people,  then  prevented  me  doing  him  jus- 
"  tice-.     However,  it  it  is  not  now  too  late  <  and,  by 
"  power  vested  in  me  for  the  public  good,  I  adji 
"  Virginia  to  be  the  property  oi  Claudius,  the 
**  Go  therefore  lictors,  disperse  the  multitude,  and  r. 
"  room  for  a  master  to  repossess  himself  of  hi 
The  lictors,  in  obedience  to  his  con.  on  drove 

oft' the  throng  that  pressed  round  the  tribu ; 
they  seized  upon  Virginia,  and  were  up 

into  the  hands  of  Claudius,  when  Yirgimus,  w  I 
that  all  was  over,  seemed  to  acquiesce  in  the  *< 
He  therefore  mildly  entreated  Appius  tob. 
take  a  last  farewell  of  one  whom  he  had  long  c 
ed  as  his  child,  and,  so  satisfied,  he  would  his 

duty  with  fresh  alacrity.     With  this  the  d< 
plied,  but  upon  condition  that  thi 
pass  in  his  presence.    Virginius,  with  the  ; 
anguish,  took  hU  almost  'ins, 

for  a  while  supported  her  head  up«n  1 
ed  away  the  tears  that  rolled  down  her  1<. 
and  happening  to  be  near  the  shops  that  sarroi 
Forum,  he  snatched  up  a  knife  that  lay  on  the  I 
and  addressing  his  daughter,    u  My  dearest  lost  child," 
cried  he,  "  this,  this  alone  can  preserve  your  honour 
a  your  freedom."     So  saying,  he  buried  t  :i  in 

her  breast,  and  then  holding  it  up 
blood,  of  his  daughter,  u  Appius,"  he  cried,  »*  by 
"  blood  of  innocence,  I  devote  thy  head  to  llu 
t(  gods."     Thus  saying,  with  the  bloody  kn; 
hand,  and  threatening  destruction  to  v  •  >uld 

oppose  him,  he  ran  through  the  city,  wiK.  ,  ;  up- 

on the  people  to  strike  for  freedom,  and   iron 
went  to  the  camp,  in  order  to  spread  a  like  flame  through 
the  army. 

He  no  sooner  arrived  at  the  camp,  followed  by  a 
number  of  his  friends,  but  he  informed  the  arn.y  of  all 
that  was  done,  still  holding  the  bloody  knife  in 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          51 

He  asked  their  pardon,  and  the  pardon  of  their  gods, 
for  having  committed  so  rash  an  action,  but  ascribed 
it  all  to  the  dreadful  necessity  of  the  times.  The  army, 
already  predisposed,  immediately  with  shouts  echoed 
their  approbation  ;  and  decamping,  left  their  generals 
behind  to  take  their  station  once  more  upon  mount 
Avcntinc,  whither  they  had  retired  about  forty  years 
before.  The  other,  which  had  been  to  oppose  the  Sa~ 
bines,  seemed  to  feel  a  like  resentment,  and  came  over 
in  large  parties  to  join  them. 

Appius  in  the  mean  time  did  all  he  could  to  quell  the 
disturbances  in  the  city  ;  but  finding  the  tumult  incapa- 
ble of  control,  and  perceiving  that  his  mortal  enemies, 
Valerius  and  Horatius,  were  the  most  active  in  opposi- 
tion, at  first  attempted  to  find  safety  by  flight  ;  never- 
theless, being  encouraged  by  Oppius,  who  was  one  ot 
his  colleagues,  he  ventured  to  assemble  the  senate,  and 
urged  the  punishment  of  all  deserters.  The  senate,  how- 
ever, were  far  from  giving  the  relief  he  sought  for  ;  they 
foresaw  the  dangers  and  miseries  that  threatened  the 
state  in  case  of  opposing  the  incensed  army  ;  they  there- 
fore dispatched  messengers  to  them,  offering  to  restore 
their  former  mode  of  government.  To  this  proposal  all 
the  people  joyfully  assented,  and  the  army  gladly  obey- 
ed, now  returning  to  the  city,  if  not  with  the  ensigns,  at 
least  with  the  pleasure  of  a  triumphal  entry.  Appius, 
and  Oppius.  one  of  his  colleagues,  both  died  by  their 
own  hands  in  prison.  The  other  eight  decemvirs  went 
into  voluntary  exile  :  and  Claudius,  the  pretended  mas- 
ter of  Virginia,  was  driven  out  after  them. 

In  the  rncan  time,  these  intestine  tumults  produced 
weakness  within  the  state,  and  confidence  in  the  enemy 
abroad.  The  wars  with  the  /Kqui  and  Volsci  still  con- 
tinued ;  and  as  each  year  some  trifling  advantages  were 
obtained  over  the  Romans,  they  at  last  advanced  so  far 
as  to  make  their  incursions  to  the  very  walls  of  Rome. 

jj  ,,  But  not  the  courage  only  of  the  Romans  seem- 
ed diminished  by  these  conquests,  but  their 
other  virtues  also,  particularly  their  justice. 
About  this  time  the  inhabitants  of  two  neighbouring 
cities,  Ardea  and  Aricia,  had  a  contest  between  them- 


52  THE  HISTORY  OF  THK 

selves  about  some  lands  that  had  long  been  claimed  by 
both.  At  length,  being  unable  to  agree,  they  referred 
it  to  the  senate  and  people  of  Rome.  The  senate  had 
yet  some  of  the  principles  of  primitive  justice  remain- 
ing, and  refused  to  determine  the  dispute.  But  the 
people  readily  undertook  the  dc< 

tins,  an  old  man,  declaring  that  tl  ighfc 

belonged  to  Rome,  they  immediately  voted  tin 
to  be  the  legal  possessors,  and  sent  home  the  former 
litigants,  thoroughly  convinced  of  their  own  folly, 
of  the  Roman  injustice. 

The  tribunes  now  grew  more  turbulent ;  they  propos- 
ed two  laws,  one  to  permit  plebeians  to  im 
patricians,  and  the  other  to  permit  them  to  be  admit- 
ted to  the  consulship  also.     The  sena' 
proposals  with  indignation,  - 
dcrgo  the  utmost  extremitir 
act  them.     However,  finding  the 

crease  the  commotions  of  thi  <  on- 

sented  to  pass  the  law  concerning  man  ;  >ing  that 

this  concession  would  satisfy  the  people,    llut  they  were 
to  be  appeased  but  for  a  very  short  time  ;  l->r  retHi 
to  their  old  custom,  of  refusing  to  enlist  upon   the 
proach  of  an  enemy,  the  consuls  were  forced  to  hold  a 
private  conference  with  the  chief  of  the  senate,  wl 
after  many  debates,  Claudius  proposed  an  expedient  as 
the  most  probable  means  of  satisfying  the  people  in  the 
present  conjuncture.     This  was  to  c 
governors  in  the  room  of  consuls,  whereof  one  hai 
least  should  be  patricians.     This  project,  which  w: 
fact  granting  what  the  people  demanded,  pleased  tho 
whole  meeting ;  and  it  was  agreed,  that  at  the  next  pub- 
lic meeting  of  the  senate,  the  consuls  should,  com 
to  their  usual  custom,  begin  by  asking  the  opinion  ot 
youngest  senator.     Upon  assembling  the  senate,  one  of 
the  tribunes  accused  them  of  holding  secret  meeti 
and  managing   dangerous  designs  against  the 
The  consuls,  on  the  other  hand,  averred  their  innocence  ; 
and,  to  demonstrate  their  sinceiily,  gave  anv 
youngest  members  of  the  house  leave  to  propound  their 
opinions.     These  remaining  silent,  such  of  the  olde  • 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  5. 

nators  as  were  known  to  be  popular,  began  by  observing 
that  the  people  ought  to  be  indulged  in  their  request, 
that  none  so  well  deserved  power  as  those  who  were  most 
instrumental  in  gaining  it,  and  that  the  city  could  not 
be  free,  until  all  were  reduced  to  perfect  equality.  Clau- 
dius spoke  next,  and  broke  out  into  bitter  invectives 
against  the  people,  asserting  that  it  was  his  opinion  that 
the  law  should  not  pass.  This  produced  some  distur- 
bances among  the  plebeians  :  at  length,  Genutius  pro- 
posed, as  had  been  preconcerted,  that  six  governors 
should  be  annually  chosen,  with  consular  authority,  three 
from  the  senate,  and  three  from  the  people,  and  that 
when  the  time  of  their  magistracy  should  be  expired, 
then  it  would  be  seen  whether  they  should  have  the  same 
office  continued,  or  whether  the  consulship  should  be  es- 
tablished upon  its  former  footing.  This  project  was  ea- 
gerly embraced  by  the  people  ;  yet  so  fickle  were  the 
multitude,  that  though  many  of  the  plebeians  stood,  the 
Choice  wholly  fell  upon  the  patricians,  who  offered  them- 
jj  £  selves  as  candidates.  These  new  magistrates 
310  '  were  ca^ec^  Military  Tribunes  ;  they  were  at 
first  but  three,  afterwards  they  were  increased 
to  four,  and  at  length  to  six.  They  had  the  power  and 
ensigns  of  consuls  ;  yet  that  power  being  divided  among 
a  number,  each  singly  was  of  less  authority.  The  first 
that  were  chosen  only  continued  in  office  about  three 
months,  the  augurs  having  found  something  amiss  in 
the  ceremonies  of  their  election. 

The  military  tribunes  being  deposed,  the  consuls  once 
more  came  into  office  ;  in  order  to  lighten  the  weight  of 
business  which  they  were  obliged  to  sustain,   a  new  of- 
fice was  erected,  namely,  that  of  Censors,  to  be  chosen 
every  fifth  year.     Their  business  was  to  take  an  estimate 
of  the  number  and  estates  of  the  people,  and  to  distJ-i- 
bute  them  into  their  proper  classes  ;  to  inspect  into  the 
lives  and  manner  of  their  fellow-citizens  ;.  to  degrade 
'tors  for  misconduct ;  to  dismount  knights,  and  to 
turn  down  plebeians  from  their  tribes  into  an  inferior  in 
case  of  misdemeanor.     The  two  first  censors  were  Papi- 
and  Semphronius,  both  patricians  ;  and  from  this 
K  2 


54  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

order  they  continued  to  be  elected  for  near  an  hundred 
years. 

This  new  creation  served  to  restore  peace  for  some 
time  among  the  orders  ;  and  a  triumph  gained  over  the 
Volscians  by  Gaganius  the  consul,  added  to  the  un; 
sal  satisfaction  that  rejgned  among  the  pec. 

The  calm,  hen-  s  but  of  a  short  coi.1 

,j  p     for,  some  time  after,  a  famim 
'    "    upon  the  poor,  the  u 

°'     the  rich  were  renewed  ; 
proving  ineffectual,  produced  new  sei 
juls  were  accused  of  neglect  in  not  having  laid  in  pi 
quantities  of  corn  ;  the  .  .  (led  the  mur- 

murs of  the  populace,  content  with  exertin . 
in  attempts  to  supply    the  pressing  ncc-  But 

though  they  did  all  that  could  L- 

magistrates  in  providing  and  distributing  ;  s  to 

the  poor,  yetSpurius 

purchased  up  all  the  corn  <  ;  outshone 

them  in  liberality.     This  c.  :h  a 

secret  desire  of  becoming  powerful  by  the 
the  state,  distributed  corn  in  greatc: 
•he  poorer  sort  each  day,  till  his  hou^i 
lum  of  such  as  wished  to  exchange  a  lift- 
one  of  lazy  dependence.     When  he  had  thus 
sufficient  number  of  partizans,  he  procured  large  quan- 
tities of  arms  to  be  brought  into  his  house  and 
urmed  a  conspiracy  by  which  he  was  to  ol                  om- 
mand,  while  some  of  the  tribunes,  whom  he  h 
means  to  corrupt,  were  to  act  under  him  in  seizing 
liberties  of  his  country.     Minucius  soon  discovered  the 
plot ;  and  informing  the  senate  thereof,  tin 
ly  formed  a  resolution  of  ci  i                                         <>uld 
have  the  power  of  quelling  the  conspiracy  withou 
pealing  to  the  people.    Cincinnatus,  who  was  now  ei 
years  old,  was  chosen  once  more  to  rescue  bis  cov 
from  impending  danger.    He  began  by  summoi 
Uus  to  appear,  who  refused  to  obey.     He  next  sent  Aha- 
;a.  the  master  of  his  horse,  to  force  him  ;  who,  meeting 
him  in  the  Forum,  and  pressing  Maclius  to  follow 

V  dictator's  tribunal,  upon  h^s  refusal?  Ah;; 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          55 

on  the  spot.  The  dictator  applauded  the  resolution  of 
his  officer,  and  commanded  the  conspirator's  goods  to 
be  sold,  and  his  house  to  be  demolished,  distributing  his 
stores  among  the  people. 

The  tribunes  ot"  the  people  were  much  enraged  at  the 
death  of  Mselius  ;  and,  in  order  to  punish  the  senate  at 

,.    ,,     the  next  election,  instead  of  consuls,  insisted 
upon  restoring  their  military  tribunes.     With 
this  the  senate  were  obliged  to  comply.     The 
next  year,  however,  the  government  returned  to  its  an- 
cient channel,  and  consuls  were  chosen. 

The  Veians  had  long  been  the  rivals  of  Rome  ;  they 
had  ever  taken  the  opportunity  of  its  internal  distresses 
to  ravage  its  territories,  and  had  even  threatened  its  am- 
bassadors, sent  to  complain  of  these  injuries,  with  out- 
rage. It  seemed  now  therefore  determined,  that  the  ci- 
ty of  Veil,  whatever  it  should  cost,  was  to  fall  ;  and  the 
Romans  accordingly  sat  regularly  down  before  it,  pre- 
pared for  a  long  and  painful  resistance.  The  strength 
of  the  place  may  be  inferred  from  the  continuance  of 
the  siege,  which  lasted  for  ten  years  ;  during  which  time 
the  army  continued  encamped  round  it,  lying  in  winter 
under  tents  made  of  the  skins  of  beasts,  and  in  summer 
driving  on  the  operations  of  the  attack.  Various  was 
the  success,  and  many  were  the  commanders  that  direct- 
ed the  siege  ;  sometimes  all  the  besigers  works  were  de- 
stroyed, and  many  of  their  men  cut  off  by  sallies  from 
the  town  ;  sometimes  they  were  annoyed  by  an  army  of 
Veians,  who  attempted  to  bring  assistance  from  without. 
iA  siege  so  bloody  seemed  to  threaten  depopulation  to 
Rome  itself,  by  draining  its  forces  continually  away  ;  so 
that  a  law  was  obliged  to  be  made  for  all  the  bachelors 
to  marry  the  widows  of  the  soldiers  who  were  slain.  In 
order  to  carry  it  on  with  greater  vigour,  Furius  Camii- 
lus  was  created  dictator,  and  to  him  was  entrusted  the 
sole  power  of  managing  the  long  protracted  war.  Ca- 
millus,  who,  without  intrigue,  or  any  solicitation,  had 
raised  himself  to  the  first  eminence  in  the  state,  had  been 
made  one  of  the  censors  some  time  before,  and  was  con- 
iidered  as  the  head  of  that  office  ;  he  was  afterwards 
de  a  military  tribune,  and  had,  in  His  post,  gained 


56  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

several  advantages  over  the  enemy.     It  was  his  g: 
courage  and  abilities  in  the  above  offices  that  made  i 
thought  most  worthy  to  serve  his  country  on  this  press- 
ing occasion.     Upon  his  appointment,  numbers  of  peo- 
ple flocked  to  his  standard,  confident  of  success  unde"  so 
experienced  a  commander.     Conscious,  however,  that 
he  was  unable  to  take  the  city  by  storm,  he   secretly 
wrought  a  mine  into  it  with  vast  labour,  which  opened 
into  the  midst  of  the  citadel.     Certain  thi.  ess, 

and  finding  the  city  incapable  of  relief,  he  sent  to  the 
senate,  desiring  that  all  who  chose  to  share  in  the  plun- 
der of  the  Veil  should  immediately  repair  to  the  a: 
Then  giving  his  men  directions  how  to  the 

breach,  the  city  was  instantly  filled  with  his  Ic 
the  amazement  and  consternation  of  the  b< 
but   a  moment  before,  had  rested  in   per: 
Thus,  like  a  second  Troy,  was  the  city  ' 
after  a  ten  years  siege,  and  with  died  the 

conquerors  ;  while  Camillus  himseli- 
the  honour  of  having  subdued  the  rival   ot   1; 
city,  triumphed  after  the  manner  of  the  k:  me, 

having  his  chariot  drawn  by  four  milk  wl  ;  s  ;  a 

distinction  which  did  not  fail  to  disgust  tin  v  of 

the  spectators,  as  they  considered  those  a 
more  proper  for  doing  honour  to  their  gods  than  their 
generals. 

His  usual  good  fortune  attended  Camillus  in  another 
expedition  against  the  1  ic  routed  tl: 

besieged  their  capital  city,  !  hich  thic 

long  and  vigorous  resistance.     The  reduction  of  thi 
tie  place  would  have  been  scarce  worth  mentioning  in 
this  scanty  page,  were  it  not  for  an  action  of  the  Roman 
general,  that  has  done  him  more  credit  with  posti 
than  all   his  other  triumphs  united.     A  schoolmaster, 
who  had  the  care  of  the  children  belonging  to  the  \ 
cipal  men  of  the  city,  having  found   means  to  decoy 
them  into   the  Roman  camp,  offered  to  put  them  into 
the  hands  of  Camillus,  as  the  surest  means  of  indi 
the  citizens  to  a  speedy  surrender.     The  general 
struck  with  the  treachery  of  a  wretch  whose  duty  ii 
to  protect  innocence  and  not  betray  it :  he  for  some  tiflgfc. 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  57 

regarded  the  traitor7  with  a  stern  air,  but  at  last  finding 
words,  *»  Execrable  villain,"  cried  the  noble  Roman, 
"  offer  thy  abominable  proposals  to  creatures  like  thy- 
"  self,  and  not  to  me  ;  what  though  we  be  enemies  of 
"  your  city,  yet  there  are  natural  ties  that  bind  all  m an- 
*•  kind,  which  should  never  be  broken  :  there  are  duties 
"  required  of  us  in  war  as  well  as  in  peace  :  we  fight 
a  not  against  an  age  of  innocence,  but  against  men  :  men 
k'  who  have  used  us  ill  indeed,  but  yet  whose  crimes  are 
a  virtues  when  compared  to  thine.  Against  such  base 
s  let  it  be  my  duly  to  use  only  Roman  arts,  the 
u  arts  of  valour  and  of  arms."  So  saying,  he  imme- 
diately ordered  him  to  be  stript,  his  hands  tied  behind 
him,  and  in  that  ignominious  manner  to  be  whipped  in- 
to the  town  by  his  own  scholars.  This  generous  beha- 
viour in  Camillus  effected  move  than  his  arms  could  do  : 
the  magistrates  of  the  town  immediately  submitted  to 
the  senate,  leaving  to  Camillus  the  conditions  of  their 
surrender,  who  only  fined  them  a  sum  of  money  to  sat- 
isfy the  army,  and  received  them  under  the  protection 
and  into  the  alliance  of  Rome. 

Notwithstanding  the  veneration  which  the  virtues  of 
Camillus  had  excited  abroad,  they  seemed  but  little 
adapted  to  bring  over  the  turbulent  tribunes  at  home, 
as  they  raised  some  fresh  accusation  against  him  every 
day.  To  the  charge  of  being  an  opposer  of  their  intend- 
ed migration  from  Rome  to  Veil,  they  added  that  of 
his  having  concealed  a  part  of  the  plunder  of  that  city, 
particularly  two  brazen  gates,  for  his  own  use,  and  ap- 
pointed him  a  day  on  which  to  appear  before  the  peo- 
ple. Camillus  finding  the  multitude  exasperated  against 
him  upon  many  accounts,  detesting  their  ingratitude, 
resolved  not  to  wait  the  ignominy  of  a  trial,  but,  em- 
bracing his  wife  and  children,  prepared  to  depart  from 
Rome.  He  had  already  passed  as  far  as  one  of  the 
gates,  unattended  on  his  way,  and  unlamented.  There 
lie  could  suppress  his  indignation  no  longer,  but  turning 
his  face  to  the  capital,  and  lifting  up  his  hands  to  hea- 
ven, entreated  all  the  gods  that  his  country  might  one 
day  be  sensible  of  their  injustice  and  ingratitude  ;  and  so 
saying,  he  past  forward  to  take  refuge  at  Ardea,  a  towrv 


58  .     THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

at  a  little  distance  from  Rome*  tvhere  he  afterwards 
teamed  that  he  had  been  fined  fifteen  hundred  as^cs  by 
the  tribunes  at  home. 

The  tribunes  were  not  a  little  pleased  with  their  tri- 
umph over  this  great  man  ;  but  they  soon  had 
repent  their  injustice,  and  to  wish  for  the 
one  who  alone  was  able  to  protect  their  country  from 
ruin.     For  now  a  more  terrible  and  : 
began  to  make  its  appearance  than  the 
yet  encountered.     The  Gauls,  a  bar 
about  two  centuries  before  made  an  irruption  froiv. 
yond  the  Alps,  and  set' led  in  the  northern 
ly.     They  had  been  invited  over  by  the  dr 
the  wines,  and  the  softness  of  the  climate.     V 
they  came,  they  di 
they  were  men  of  superior  cou: 
ture,  fierce  in  aspect,  barbarou 
prone  to  cmi.uratioii. 

inal  habitations,  were  iv  city 

of  Etruria,  under  the  conduct  ri  -ing. 

The  inhabitants  of  Clusium.  fri  .um- 

bers, and  still  more  at  tl  :tce,entrc 

the  assistance,  or  at  least  the  mediation  of  the  Romans. 
The  senate,  who  had  long  made  it  a  maxim  never  to 
refuse  succour  to  the  di-  were  will!  usly 

to  send  ambassadors  to  the  Gauls  to  ii  .cm  from 

their  enterprize,  and  to  shew  the  injustice  of  the  irrup- 
tion. Accordingly,  three  young  senators  were  chosen 
out  of  the  family  of  th  the  commis- 

sion, who  seemed  more  fitted  to  the  field  than  the  cabinet. 
Brennus  received  them  with  a  degree  of  complaisance 
that  argued  but  little  of  the  barbarian  ;  ai  £  to 

know  the  business  of  their  embassy,  I 
cording  to  their  instructions,  that  it  was  not  castoi 
in  Italy  to  make  war  but  rn  just  grounds  of  prc^ 
lion,  and  that  they  desired  to  know  what  offence  the 
izens  of  Clusium  had  given  to  the  king  of  thc-^. 
To  this  Brennus  sternly  replied,  that  the 
Jiant  men  lay  in  their  swords  ;  that  the  J* 
selves  had  no  right  to  the  many  cities  t 
^ed ;  and  that  he  had  particular  reasons  r 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          59 

rnent  against  the  people  of  Clusium,  as  they  refused  to 
part  with  those  lands  which  they  had  neither  hands  to 
till  nor  inhabitants  to  occupy.  The  Roman  ambassa-r 
dors,  who  were  but  little  used  to  the  language  of  a  con- 
queror, for  a  while  dissembled  their  resentment  at  this 
haughty  reply  ;  but,  upon  entering  the  besieged  city, 
instead  of  acting  as  ambassadors,  and  forgetful  of  their 
sacred  characters,  headed  the  citizens  in  a  sally  against 
the  besiegers.  In  this  combat,  Fabius  Ambustus  killed 
a  Gaul  with  his  own  hand,  but  was  discovered  while 
he  was  despoiling  him  of  his  armour.  A  conduct  so 
unjust  and  unbecoming  excited  the  resentment  of  Bren- 
nus,  who  having  made  his  complaint  by  an  herald  to  the 
senate,  and  finding  no  redress,  immediately  broke  up 
the  siege,  and  marched  away  with  his  conquering  army 
directly  to  Rome. 

The  countries  through  which  the  Gauls  passed  in 
their  rapid  progress,  gave  up  all  hopes  of  safely  upon 
their  approach  ;  being  terrified  at  their  vast  numbers, 
the  fierceness  of  their  natures,  and  their  dreadful  prepa- 
rations for  war.  But  ihe  rage  and  impetuosity  of  this 
wild  people  were  directed  only  against  Rome.  They 
went  on  without  doing  the  least  injury  in  their  march, 
still  breathing  vengeance  only  against  the  Romans  ;  and 
a  terrible  engagement  soon  after  ensued,  in  which  the 
Romans  were  defeated  near  the  river  Allia,  with  the 
?oss  of  near  forty  thousand  men. 

Rome  thus  deprived  of  all  succour  prepared  for  every 
extremity.  The  inhabitants  endeavoured  to  hide  them- 
es in  some  of  the  neighbouring  towns,  or  resolved  to 
await  the  conqueror's  fury,  and  end  their  lives  with  the 
ruin  of  their  native  city.  But,  more  particularly,  the 
ancient  senators  and  priests,  struck  with  religious  en- 
thusiasm on  this  occasion,  resolved  to  devote  their  lives 
to  atone  for  the  crimes  of  the  people,  and  habited  in  the 
robes  of  ceremony,  placed  themselves  in  the  Forum  on 
their  ivory  chairs.  The  Gauls  in  the  mean  time  were 
giving  a  loose  to  their  triumph  in  sharing  and  enjoying 
the  plunder  of  the  enemy's  camp.  Had  they  immedi- 
ately marched  to  Rome  upon  gaining  the  victory,  the 
capitol  itself  had  been  taken  j  but  they  continued  two 


60  THE  HISTORY  OF  TH1.. 

days  feasting  themselves  upon  the  field  of  battle, 
with  barbarous  pleasure,  exulting  amidst  iheir  slaugh- 
tered enemies.    On  the  third  day  alter  the  \ictory,  the  ea- 
siness of  which  much  amazed  the  Gauls,  Brennus  ap- 
peared with  all   his  forces  before  the  city.     He  \\ . 
first  much  surprised  to  find  the  gates  wide  open  to  re- 
ceive him,  and  the  walls  defenceless  :  so  that  he  began 
to  impute  the  unguarded  situation  of  the  pi  irat- 

agem  of  the  Romans.     Afier  proper  \ 
tered  the  city,  and,  marching  imo  the  Foi 
held  the  ancient  senators  sitting  in  their  orcier,  ob^ 
ing  a  profound  silence,  unmoved  and  undaunted, 
splendid  habits,  the  majesti  the  venerable 

looks  of  these  old  men,  who  had  all,  in  iheir  tin 
the  highest  offices  of  the  state,  awed  the  barbarous  i 
my  into  reverence;  they  took   them  to  be  tin 
(Jeities  of  the  place,  and  began  to  offer  b:  -ion, 

one,  more  forward  than  i>ut  fonh  his  i 

to  stroke  the  beard  of  Pa.  he  noble 

Roman  could  not  endure,  but  lifting  up  1 
tre,  struck  the  savage  to  the  ground.     Th 
signal  for  general  slaughter, 
the  rest  shared  his  fate,  without  mercy  or  di- 
Thus  the  fierce  invaders  pursued  their  slaughte 
three  days  successively,  sparing  neither  sex  nor  age 
then  setting  fire  to  the  city,  burnt  every  house  to  the 
ground. 

wj  £         All  hopes  of  Rome  were  now  placed  in  the 
„'     '    capitol ;  every  thing  without  that  i< 

but  an  extensive  scene  of  lion, 

and  despair.     Brennus  first  summoned  it,  with  thn 
to  surrender,  b  it  in  vain  ;   he  then  resolve 
in  form,  and  hemmed  it  round  with  his  army, 
theless  the   Romans  repelled   his  attem:  reat 

bravery  ;  despair  had  supplied  them  with  that 
ranee  and  vigour  which  they   seemed  to 
prosperity. 

In  the  mean  while,  Brennus  carried  on  the 
extreme  ardour.     He  hoped,  in  time,  to  s-  gar- 

rison into  a  capitulation  ;  but  they,  sensible  of  I 
although  they  were  in  actual  want,  caused  several  lo 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          bi 

to  be  thrown  into  his  camp,  to  convince  him  of  the  fu- 
tility of  such  expectations.  His  hopes  failing  in  this, 
were  sooa  after  revived,  when  some  of  his  soldiers  came 
to  inform  him  that  they  had  discovered  some  footsteps 
which  led  up  the  rock,  and  by  which  they  supposed  the 
capitol  might  be  surprised.  Accordingly,  a  chosen  bo- 
dy of  his  men  were  ordered  by  night  upon  this  danger- 
ous service,  which  they  with  great  labour  and  difficulty 
almost  effected  ;  they  were  now  got  upon  the  very  wall  -, 
the  Roman  centinel  was  fast  asleep  ;  their  dogs  within 
gave  no  signal ;  and  all  promised  an  easy  victory,  when 
the  garrison  was  awakened  by  the  gabbling  of  some  sa- 

geese  that  had  been  kept  in  the  temple  of  Juno. 

The   besieged  soon  perceived  the  imminence  of  thei; 

;er,andcach  snatching  the  weapon  he  could  instantly 

find,  ran  to  oppose  the  assailants.     Manlius,  a  patrician 

of  acknowledged  bravery,  was  the  first  who  exerted  all 

rength,  and  inspired  courage  by  his  example.  He 
boldly  mounted  the  rampart,  and  at  one  effort,  threw 
two  Gauls  headlong  down  the  precipice :  oti^s  soon 
came  to  his  assistance,  and  the  walls  were  cleared  of  the 
•;»y  in  a  space  of  time  shorter  than  that  employed  in 
the  recital. 

FIOIY.  this  time  forward  the  hopes  of  the  barbarians 
began  to  decline,  and  Brennus  wished  for  an  opportunity 
of  raising  the  siege  with  credit.  His  soldiers  had  of- 
ten conferences  with  the  besieged  while  upon  duty,  and 
the  proposals  for  an  accommodation  were  wished  for  by 
the  common  men  before  the  chiefs  thought  of  a  con- 
gress. At  length  the  commanders  on  both  sides  came 
loan  agreement  that  the  Gauls  should  immediately  quit 
the  city  and  territories  of  Rome,  upon  being  paid  a 
thousand  pounds  weight  of  gold.  This  agreement  be- 
ing confirmed  by  an  oath  on  either  side,  the  gold  was 
brought  forth  ;  'but,  upon  weighing,  the  Gauls  fraudu- 
lently attempted  to  kick  the  beam,  of  which  the  Ro- 
mans complaining,  Brennus  insultingly  cast  his  sword 
and  belt  into  the  scale,  crying  out,  that  the  only  portion 
of  the  vanquished  was  to  suffer.  By  this  reply  the  Ro- 
mans saw  that  they  were  at  the  victor's  mercy,  and 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Tl 

knew  it  was  in  vain  to  expostulate  against  any  condit* 
he  should  be  pleased  to  impose.    But  in  this  very  j 
lure,  and  while  they  were  thus  debating  upon  the  | 
ment,  it  was  told  them  that  Camillus,  their  old  gem 
was  at  the  head  of  a  large  army,  hastening  to  t 
lief,  and  entering  the  gates  of  Rome.     Camillus  actual- 
ly appeared  soon  after,  and  entering  the  place  of  con- 
troversy, \\ith  the  air  of  one  wh 
suffer  imposition, demanded  the  cause  of  tl 
which  being  informed,  he  ordered  the  gold  to  be  t:-. 
and  carried  back  to  the  capitol,  "  Tor  it  lias  ever  ben 
cried  he,    u  the  manner  of  us  Rom;; 
>c  country,  not  with  gold,  but  with  iron  ;  it  ib  I  only 
'•  am  to  make  peace,  as  being  the  d  'me, 

•nc  shall 

battle  ensued,  in  which  the  G;mls  were  en1  ed  ; 

^ncl  such  a  slaughter  followed,  that  the  Roman  ten 
vies  wc;\  '.tared    of  their  foi  i 

Thii  :ne,  by  the  bravery  of  Camillus 

its  foes. 

The  city   being  one  continued  heap  of  ruins,  < 
:i\pitol,  and  the  greatest  number  of  its  former  ii..- 
•s  having  gone  to  take  refuge  in  Veil,  the  tribunes 
of  the  people  urged  for  the   removal  of  the 
mains  of  Rome  to  Veil,  where  they  might  have  houses 
to  shelter,  and  walls  to  defend  them.     On  this  occasion 
nillus  attempted  to  appease  them  with  all  the  arts  of 
persuasion,  observing,  that  it  was  unworthy  of  them, 
"both  as  Romans  and  as  men,  to  desert  the  venerable  - 
of  their  ancestors,  where  they  had  been  encouraged  by 
repeated  marks  of  divine  approbation,  to  remove  to  and 
inhabit   a  city  which  they  had  conquered,  n: 
wanted  even  the  good  fortune  of  defending  itself.     By 
these,  and  such   like  remonstrances,  he  prevailed  upon 
the  people  to  go  contentedly  to  work ;  and  Rome  soon 
began  to  rise  from  its  ashes. 

We  have  already  seen  the  bravery  of  Manlius  • 
fending  the  capitol,  and  saving  the  last  remains  of  R 
For  this  the  people  were  by  no  means  ungrateful, 
ing  built  him  an  house  near  the  place  where  his  valour 
was  so  conspicuous,  and  having  appointed  him  a  p 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          63 

fund  for  hh  support.  But  he  aspired  at  being  not  only 
equal  to  Camillas,  but  to  be  sovereign  of  Rome.  With 
this  view  he  laboured  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the 
populace,  paid  their  debts,  and  railed  at  the  patricians, 
whom  he  culled  their  oppressors.  The  senate  was  not 
ignorant  of  his  discourses  or  his  designs,  and  created 
Cornelius  Cossus  dictator,  with  a  view  to  curb  the  am- 
bition of  Manlius.  The  dictator  soon  finished  an  expe- 
dition against  the  Volscians  by  a  victory  ;  and,  upon  his 
return,  called  Manlius  to  an  account  for  his  conduct. 
Manlius,  however,  was  too  much  the  darling  of  the  po- 
pulace to  be  affected  by  the  power  of  Cossus,  who  was 
obliged  to  lay  down  his  office,  and  Manlius  was  carried 
from  confinement  in  triumph  through  the  city.  '1 
success  only  served  to  inflame  his  ambition.  lie  now 
began  to  talk  of  a  division  of  the  lands  among  the  peo- 
ple ;  insinuated  that  there  should  be  no  distinctions  in  the 
state  ;  and,  to  give  weight  to  his  discourses,  always  ap- 
peared at  the  head  of  a  large  body  of  the  dregs  of  the 
people,  whom  his  largesses  hud  made  his  followers. 
The  city  being  thus  filled  with  sedition  and  clamour,  the 
senate  had  recourse  to  another  expedient,  and  to  oppose 
the  power  of  Camillas  to  that  of  the  demagogue.  Ca- 
rnillus  accordingly  being  made  one  of  the  military  tri- 
bunes, appointed  Manlius  a  day  to  answer  foi-  his  life. 
The  place  in  which  he  was  tried  was  near  the  capitol, 
where,  when  he  was  accused  of  sedition,  and  of  aspiring 
at  sovereignty,  he  only  turned  his  eyes,  and,  pointing 
thither,  put  them  in  mind  of  what  he  had  there  done  for 
his  country.  The  multitude,  whose  compassion  or  whose 
justice  seldom  spring  from  rational  motives,  refused  to 
condemn  him,  while  he  pleaded  in  sight  of  the  cupiiol  : 
but  when  he  was  brought  from  thence  to  the  Petcline 
grove,  and  where  the  capitol  was  no  longer  to  be  seen, 
they  condemned  him  to  be  thrown  headlong  from  the 
Tarpeian  rock.  Thus  the  place  which  had  been  the 
theatre  of  his  glory,  became  that  of  his  punishment  and 
infamy.  His  house,  in  which  his  conspiracies  had  been 
ctly  carried  on,  was  ordered  to  be  razed  to  the  ground, 
his  family  were  forbidden  ever  after  toassurrv 
name  of  Manlius. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

In  tliis  manner,  therefore,  the  Romans  went  gradual- 
ly i-  ith  a  mixture  of  turbulence 
tion  within  their  walls,  and  successful  enlerpri 
out.    With  what  an  implicit  obedience  they  submitted  to 
their  pontiffs,  we  have  already  seen  in  many  i 

how  far  they  might  be  impelled,  even  to  encounter 
death  itself  at  their  command,  villevi  :Vom 

the  behaviour  of  Curtius  about  this  time,  n  the 

opening  of  a  gulfin  the  Forum,  which 
,T  ^     ed  would  never  close  up  till  tl 
'     '    things  in  Rome  v, 

'     man  leapc-i  our  boldly 

the  midst,  saying,  that  noth:- 

in  patriotism  and   military  virtue,     'i 
the  historians,  closed  immediately   upcn 
AS  never  seen  after. 

.  XIII. 

:  the  tyar.5  of  ih<  ?,  and  ti\ 

Pyrrhus,  to  ' 

l  the  Ron.  .:aly. 

THE  Romans  having  now  triumphed  over  tin 
bines,  the  Etrurians,  the  Latios  the 

.£qui,  and  the  VoUcians,  begun  to  look  for  grc. 
quests.     They  accordingly  tut1/.  mst 

the  Samnites,  a  people  ;tbout  an  hundred   n 
from  the  city,  descended  from  the  Sabine- 
ing  a  large  tract  of  southern  Italy,  whi<  day 

makes  a  considerable  part  of  the  kingdom  o: 
Valerius  Corvus  and  Cornelius  were 

aose  care  it  first  fell  to  manage  this  <  -on- 

tcntion  between  the  rival  states. 

;ius  was  one  of  the  greatest  commanders  of  his 
time;  he  was  surnamed  Corvus  from  a  strange  circum- 
ce  of  being  assisted  by  a  crow  in  a  single  combat,  in 
.<hich  he  fought  and  killed  a  Gaul  of  a  gigantic  stature. 
To  his  colleague*s  care  it  was  consigned  to  lead  an  ar- 
my to  Samnium,  the  enemy's  capital,  while  Corvus  was 
-cut  to  relieve  Cannn,  the  capital  of  the  Car 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          65 

Never  was  a  captain  more  fitted  for  command  than  he. 
To  an  habit  naturally  robust  and  athletic,  he  joined  the 
gentlest  manners  ;  he  was  the  fiercest,  and  yet  the  most 
good  natured  man  in  the  army  ;  and,  while  the  mean- 
est centinel  was  his  companion,  no  man  kept  them  more 
btrictly  to  their  duty  :  but  what  completes  his  character, 
he  constantly  endeavoured  to  preserve  his  dignities  by 
the  same  arts  by  which  he  gained  them.  Such  soldiers 
as  the  Romans  then  were,  hardened  by  their  late  adver- 
sity, and  led  on  by  such  a  general,  were  unconquerable. 
The  Samnites  were  the  bravest  men  they  ever  yet  en- 
countered ;  and  the  contention  between  the  two  nations 
was  managed  on  both  sides  with  the  most  determined 
resolution.  But  the  fortune  of  Rome  prevailed  ;  the 
Samnites  at  length  fled,  averring  that  they  were  not 
able  to  withstand  the  fierce  looks  and  the  fire -darting 
eyes  of  the  Romans.  The  other  consul,  however,  was 
not  at  first  so  fortunate  ;  for  having  unwarily  led  his 
army  into  a  defile,  he  was  in  danger  of  being  cut  off, 
had  not  Decius,  a  tribune  of  the  army,  possessed  himself 
of  a  hill  which  commanded  the  enemy  ;  so  that  the 
Samnites  being  attacked  on  either  side,  were  defeated 
with  great  slaughter  ;  no  less  than  thirty  thousand  of 
them  being  left  dead  upon  the  field  of  battle. 

Some  time  after  this  victory,  the  soldiers,  who  were 
stationed  at  Capua,  mutinying,  forced  Quintius,  an  old 
and  eminent  soldier,  who  was  then  residing  in  the  coun- 
try, to  be  their  leader ;  and,  conducted  by  their  rage 
more  than  their  general,  came  within  eight  miles  of  the 
So  terrible  an  enemy,  almost  at  their  gates,  not 
a  little  alarmed  the  senate.,  who  immediately  created 
Valerius  Corvus  dictator, and  sent  him  forth  with  another 
army  to  oppose  them.  The  two  armies  were  now 
drawn  up  against  each  other,  while  fathers  and  sons  be- 
held themselves  prepared  to  engage  in  opposite  causes. 
Any  other  general  but  Corvus  would  perhaps  have 
brought  this  civil  war  to  an  extremity  ;  but  he,  know- 
ing his  influence  among  the  soldiery,  instead  of  going 
forward  to  meet  the  mutineers  in  a  hostile  manner, 
vent  with  the  most  cordial  friendship  to  embrace  and 
F  2 


66  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

expostulate  with  his  old  acquaintances.     His  conduct 
had  the  desired  effect.     Quintius,  as  their  speaker,  only 
desired  to  have  their  defection  from  their  duty  t' 
rtnd  as  for  himself,  as  he  was  innocent  of  their  coi 
racy,  he  had  no  reason  to  solicit  pardon  for  his  > 
Thus  this  defection,  which  at  first  th: 
to  Rome,  was  repaired  by  the  pi- 
ration  of  a  general, 
his  friends,  am;  le  only  to 

A  war  between  the  R<  :  :is  followed 

;;oon  after  ;    but,  us  their  ! 

were  the  same,  tht  -  sary 

to  prevent  confusion  in  the  engagement.     < 
fore  were  issued  by  Manlius,  the  consul,  that  no  so: 
should  \c  lever  prc 

that  he  should  ce:  put  to  de. 

fer  to  do  otherwise.    \Vr.h  these  injunctions  bo'. 
were  drawn  out  in  J  ready  to  be<r,: 

tius,  the  general  of  the  enen, 

from  his  lines,  and  ch:-.i.  :M  the  Ho: 

army  to  single  comba*.  •  as  a 

general  pause,  no  soldier  offering  to  disobey  his  on 
till  Titus  Manlius.  the  consul's  own  son,  bun 
shame  to  see  the  whole  body  of  the  Romar.  aed, 

boldly  singled  out  against  l.i 

on  both  sides,  for  a  w!iiie,  suspended  the  general 
gagemcnt,  to  be  spectators  of   this 
The  two  champions  drove  their  h< 
other  with  great  violence  :  Mctius  wounded  hi- 
ry's  horse  in  the  neck  ;  but  Manlius,  with  bcttr  i 
killed  that  of  Mttius.     The  Latin,  being  thus  fallen  to 
the  ground,  for  a  while  attempted  to  support  himself 
upon  his  shield  ;  but  the  Roman  followed  his  bvws 
so  much  force,  that  he  laid  him  dead  as 
vouring  to  rise  ;  and  then  despoiling  him  of  his  armour, 
returnedin  triumph  to  the  consul  his  father's  tent,  where 
he  was  preparing  and  giving  orders  relative  t> 

•>ment.     Howsoever  he  might  have  been  apph 
by  his  feiiow  soldiers,  being  as  yet  doubtful  of  tin 
.;eption  he  should  find  from  his  father,  he  came   • 
hesitation  to  lay  the  enemy's  spoil  at  his  f< 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          67 

,1  modest  air  insinuated,  that  \vhat  he  did  was  entirely 
from  a  spirit  of  hereditary  virtue.  But  he  was  soon 
Ifully  made  sensible  of  his  error,  when  hi*  father 
turning  away,  ordered  him  to  be  led  publicly  forth  be- 
fore the  army.  There,  being  brought  forward,  the  con- 
sul, with  a  stern  countenance,  and  yet  with  tears,  spoke 
as  follows :  "  Titus  Manlius,  as  thou  hast  regarded 
u  neither  the  dignity  of  the  consulship,  nor  the  com- 
"  mands  of  thy  father,  as  thou  hast  destroyed  military 
<;  discipline,  and  set  a  pattern  of  disobedience  by  thy  ex- 
'  ample,  thou  hast  reduced  me  to  that  deplorable  extre- 
••'  mity  of  sacrificing  my  son  or  my  country  :  but  let 
M  us  not  hesitate  in  this  dreadful  alternative  :  a  thou- 
•*  sand  lives  were  well  lost  in  such  a  cause  :  nor  do  I 
•'  think  that  thou  thyself  wilt  refuse  to  die,  when  thy 
'  country  is  to  reap  the  advantage  of  thy  sufferings. 
4(  Go,  lictor,  bind  him,  and  let  his  death  be  our  future 
"  exampie."  The  whole  army  was  struck  with  horror 
at  this  unnatural  mandate  ;  fear  for  a  while  kept  them 
in  suspense  ;  but  when  they  saw  their  young  champion's 
head  struck  off,  and  his  blood  streaming  upon  the 
ground,  they  could  no  longer  contain  their  execrations 
their  groans.  His  dead  body  was  carried  forth 
without  the  camp,  and  being  adorned  with  the  spoils  of 
the  vanquished  enemy,  was  buried  with  all  the  pomp  of 
military  distress. 

In  the  mean  time  the  battle  joined  with  mutual  fury  ; 
and  as  the  two  armies  had  often  fought  under  the  same 
leaders,  they  combated  with  all  the  animosity  of  a  civil 
war.  The  Latins  chiefly  depended  on  their  bodily 
strength  ;  the  Romans,  on  their  invincible  courage  and 
conduct.  Forces  so  nearly  matched  seemed  only  to  rer 
quire  the  protection  of  their  deities  to  turn  the  scale  of 
victory  ;  and,  in  fact,  the  augurs  had  foretold,  that 
-;ever  part  of  the  Roman  army  should  be  distrest, 
the  commander  of  that  part  should  devote  himself  for 
his  country,  and  die  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  immortal  gods. 
Manlius  commanded  the  right  wing,  and  Decius  led  on 
the  left.  Both  sides  fought  for  some  time  with  doubt- 
ful success,  as  their  courage  was  equal ;  but  after  a 
time,  the  left  wing  of  tl>e  Roman  army  beean  to  give 


68  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ground,     It  was  thrn  that  Uecius,   who   con 
there,  resolved  to  devote  himself  for  his  country,  and 
to  offer  his  own  life  as  an  atonement  to  save  L. 
Thus  determined,  he  called  out  to  Manlius  with  a  loud 
voice,  and   demanded   his  instructions^  as  he  was  the 
chief  pontiff,  how  to  devote  himself,  and  the  form  of 
the  words  he  should  use.     By  his  directions  therefore, 
being  clothed  in  a  lon£  robe,  his  head  covered,  aiu. 
arms  stretched  foi  g  upon  a  c  de- 

voted himself  to  the  celestial  and  infernal  gods  for  the 
safety  of  Rome.     Then  arming 
jn  horseback,  he  drove  furiously  in  the  midst  01 
enemies,  carrying  terror  and  consternation  wh« 
came,  till  he  fell  covered  with 
time  the  Roman  army  considered  his  devoting  hii: 
in  this  manner  as  an  assurance  of  success  ;  nor 
superstition  of  the  Latins  less  powerfully  influenced  by 
his  resolution  ;  a  total  rout  began  to  ensue  ;  the  Ron 
pressed  them  on  every  side  ;  and  so 
nage,  that  scarce  a  fourth  part  of  the  cneim  1  the 

defeat.     This  was  the  last  battle  of  any  COT 
the  Latins  had  with  the  Romans  ;  they  were  forc«. 
beg  a  peace  upon  hard  conditions  ;  and  two  yc 
their  strongest  city,  Paedum,  being  taken,  they  • 
brought  under  an  entire  submission  to  the  1 : 
YT  p         A  signal  disgrace  which  the  Roman 
'  j  "    tained  about  this  time  in  their  contests  with  the 

Samnites,  made  a  pause  in  their  usual 
fortune,  and  turned  the  scale  for  a  while  i:     - 
favour.     The  senate  having  denied  the  Samnites  pt 
Pontius,  their  general,  was  resolved  tc 
what  he  had  frequently  lost  by  force.    Accordingly, ! 
ing  his  army  into  a  defile  called  Claudiu:. 
possession  of  all  its  outlets,  he  sent  ten  of  Li 
bited  like  shepherds,  with  directions  to  throw  thcmsi 
in  the  way  the  Romans  were  to  march.     Exac 
wishes  the  Roman  consul  met  them,  and  taking  them 
for  what  they  appeared,  demanded  the  route  the  w 
nite  army  had  taken:  they,  with  seeming  indifferc 
replied,  that  they  were  gone  to  Luceria,  a  town  in 
ulia,  and  were  th«n  actually  besieging  it.     The 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          69 

general,not  suspectingthe  stratagem  thatwaslaidagainst 
him,  marched  directly  by  the  shortest  road,  which  lay 
through  the  defiles,  to  relieve  the  city,  and  was  not  un- 
deceived, till  he  saw  Ins  army  surrounded  and  blockaded 
up  on  every  side.  Pontius,  thus  having  the  Romans 
entirely  i»  his  power,  first  obliged  the  army  to  pass  un- 
der the  yoke,  having  been  previously  stript  of  all  but 
their  garments  ;  he  then  stipulated  that  they  should 
wholly  quit  the  territories  of  the  Samnites,  and  that  they 
ntinue  to  live  upon  terms  of  former  conftdera- 
The  Romans  were  constrained  to  submit  to  this 
.iiinious  treaty,  and  marched  into  Capua  disarmed, 
halt' naked,  and  burning  with  a  desire  of  retrieving  their 
lost  honour.  When  the  army  arrived  at  Rome,  the 
whole  city  was  most  surprisingly  afflicted  at  their  shame- 
ful return  ;  nothing  but  grief  and  resentment  was  to  be 
seen,  ami  the  whole  city  was  put  into  mourning. 

But  this  wag  a  transitory  calamity  ;  the  state  had  suf- 
fered a  diminution  of  its  glory,  but  not  of  its  power. — 
The  war  was  carried  on  as  usual  for  many  years  :  the 
power  of  the  Samnites  declining  every  day,  while  that 
of  the  Romans  gathered  fresh  confidence  from  every 
victory.  Under  the  conduct  of  Papyiius.  Cursor,  who 
was  at  different  times  consul  and  dictator,  repeated  tri- 
umphs were  gained.  Fabius  Muximus  also  had  his 
share  in  the  glory  of  conquering  them  ;  and  Decius,  the 
••f  that  Decius  whom  we  saw  devoting  himself  for 
his  country,  about  forty  years  before,  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  his  noble  father,  and  rushing  into  the  midst  of 
the  enemy,  saved  the  lives  of  his  countrymen  with  the 
loss  of  his  own. 

The  Samnites  being  thus  driven  to  the  most  extreme 
distress,  as  they  were  unable  to  defend  themselves,  they 
were  obliged  to  call  in  the  assistance  of  a  foreign  pow- 
er, and  have  recourse  to  Pyrrhus,  king  of  Epirus,  to 
save  them  from  impending  ruin.  Pyrrhus,  a  king  of 
BJ  ambition  and  power,  had  always  kept 
the  example  of  Alexander,  his  great  predecessor,  before 
his  eyes,  promised  to  come  to  their  assistance  ;  and  in 
the  mean  time  dispatched  over  a  body  of  three  thou- 
sqfcd  men,  under  the  command  ofCineus,  an  experienc- 


ro  THE  HISTORY  OF  T* 

ed  soldier,  and  a  scholar  of  the  great  orator  Demostlu 
Nor  did  he  himself  remr.in  long  behind,  but  soon  after 
put  to  sea  with  three  thousand  horse,  twenty  thov. 
foot,  and  twenty  elephants,  in  which  the  commanders  of 
that  time  began  to  place  very  great  confidence.     How- 
ever, only  a  small  part  of  these  cr:  riv- 
ed in  Italy  with  him,  for  many  of  his  ships  were 
ed,  and  some  were  totally  1  his 
arrival  at  Tarentum,                                     o  reform 
people  he  came  to  succour  ;  for                                  isso- 
lution  of  manners  in  this  luxurious  ci. 
habitants  were  rather  occi 
bathing,  feasting,  and  ti- 
ring for  war,  he  gave  orders  ;o  have  all  their  j 
public  amusements  shut  up,  and  that  they    shouK 
restrained  in  all  such  amusi 
unfit  for  battle.     In  the  mean  time  the  U 
that  prndencc  could  suggest  to  oppose  sc  :                 c  an 
enemy  ;  and  the  consul 
rous  army  to  interrupt  his  ; 
his  whole  army  w 

him  ;  but  previously  sent  an  ambassador.  o  be 

permitted  U>  mediate  between  the  R^  the  peo- 

ple of  Tarentum.     To  this  Lxvinus  returned  for 
swer,  that  he  neither  esteemed  him  as  a  mediator,  nor 
feared  him  as  an  enemy  ;  and  then  leading  th^ 
sador  through  the  Roman  camp,  desired  him  to  observe 
diligently  what  he  saw,  and  to  report  the  result  to  his 
master.     In  consequence  of  this  both  ;>proach- 

ing  pitched  their  tents  in  sight  of  each  other  upor. 
opposite  banks  of  the  river  L;.  ri-.     ]' 
extremely  careful  in  <  [  ion  of  his  own 

camp,  and  in  observing  that  of  the  enemy, 
that  walking  along  the  banks  of  the  ri\ 
the  P  oman  method  of  encamping,  h 
serve,  4t  That  these  barbarians  seemed  to  be  no  ^ 
"  barpus,and  he  should  too  soon  find  their  actions  equal  to 
"  their  resolution."   In  the  mean  time  ordering  a  boc 
men  along  the  banks  of  the  river  he  phcec! 
diness  to  oppose  the  Romans,  in  case  they  s!  -rip* 

to  ford  it  before  his  whole  arm v  was  hr'ov.L- 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          7; 

Things  turned  out  according-  to  his  expectations  ;  the 
consul,  with  an  impetuosity  that  marked  his  inexperi- 
ence, gave  orders  for  passing  the  river  where  it  was  ford- 
able  ;  and  the  advanced  guard,  having  attempted  to  op- 
pose him  in  vain,  was  obliged  to  retire  to  the  main  bo- 
dy of  the  army.  Phyrrus  being  apprized  of  the  enemies 
attempt,  at  first  hoped  to  cut  oft'  their  cavalry  before 
they  could  be  reinforced  by  the  foot  that  were  not  as  yet 
got  over,  and  led  on  in  person  a  chosen  body  of  horse 
against  them.  The  Roman  legions  having  with  much 
difficulty  advanced  across  the  river,  the  engagement  be- 
came general ;  the  Greeks  fought  with  a  consciousness 
of  their  former  fame,  and  the  Romans  with  a  desire  of 
gaining  fresh  glory.  Mankind  had  never  before  seen 
two  such  differently  disciplined  armies  opposed  to  each 
other,  nor  is  it  to  this  day  determined  whether  the  Greek 
phalanx  or  the  Roman  legion  were  preferable.  The 
combut  was  long  in  suspense  ;  The  Romans  had  seven 
times  repulsed  the  enemy,  and  were  as  often  driven  back 
themselves,  butatlength,whilethesuccessseemed  doubt- 
ful, Pyrrhus  sent  his  elephants  into  the  midst  of  the  en- 
ment,  and  these  turned  the  scale  of  victory  in  his 
ir.  The  Romans  who  had  never  before  seen  crea- 
s  of  such  a  magnitude,  were  terrified  not  only  with 
their  intrepid  fierceness,  but  the  castles  that  were  built 
upon  their  backs  filled  with  armed  men.  It  was  then 
that  Pyrrhus  saw  the  day  was  his  own  :  and  sending  in 
his  Thessalian  cavalry  to  charge  the  enemy  in  disorder, 
rout  became  general.  A  dreadful  slaughter  of  the 
Romans  ensued,  fifteen  thousand  men  being  killed  on 
the  spot,  and  eighteen  hundred  taken  prisoners.  Nor 
were  the  conquerors  in  a  much  better  state  than  the  van- 
ned, Pyrrhus  himself  being  wounded,  and  thirteen 
thousand  of  his  forces  slain.  Night  coming  on,  put  an 
to  the  slaughter  on  both  sides,  and  Pyrrhus  was 
heard  to  cry  out,  "  That  one  such  victory  more  would 
•:ruin  his  whole  army."  The  next  day  as  he  walked 
to  view  the  field  of  battle,  he  could  not  help  regarding 
-\vithadmirationthebodiesofthe  Romans  which  were 
.slain  :  upon  seeing  them  all  with  their  wounds  before, 
their  countenances,  even  in  death,  marked  with  noble 


72  THE  HISTORY  OF  T! 

resolution,  and  a  sternness  that  awed  him  inv 
he  was  heard  to  cry  out,  in  the  true  spirit  of  a 
adventurer,  "()  with   what  ease  could  I  conquer  the 
'<  world,  had  I  the  !  tor  soldiers,  or  had 

•'for  their  king." 

Pyrrhus,  after  this  victory,  was  still  unwilling  to  drive 
them  to  an  extremity,  and  considered  that  it  was  best 
treating  with  an  humbled  enemy  ;  he  'hereforc 

to  send  his  friend  Cincus,  the  orator.  t< 
of  whom  he  often  asserted,  that  i.  -wns 

by  the  eloquence   of  Cincas,  than  1 
Cineas,  with  all   his  art,  found  the  Ron: 
of  being  seduced,  either  by  briber) 
persu: 

Being  frustrated,  theref  he  rc- 

;urned  to  his  !  the 

I'leur  of  t! 

rd  a   reverend  assembly  c>: 
temple  for  their  reception, 
uecume  sensible  by  an  embassy  from  Rome  c< 
the  ransom  and  exchange  o: 
this  venerable  dep:. 

ator,  who  had  long  been  a  pattern  to  his  countrymen, 
of  the  most  extreme  poverty,  joined  to  the  most  cheer- 
ful content.     Pyrrhus  received  this  celebrated  old  man 
with  great  kindness  ;  and  willing  to  try   1 
had  been  just  in  his  favour  offered  him  rich  presc 
which,  however,  the  Roman  refused.     The  day  after, 
he  was  desirous  of  examing  the  equality  of  his  ten; 
and  ordered  one  of  his  elephants  to  be  j 
the  tapestry  ;  which,  upon    a  signal  :  its 

trunk  above  the  ambassador's  In 
using  other  arts  to  intimidate  him.     But  1  - 
a  countenance  no  way  changing,  smiled  upon  the  k 
observing,  that  he  looked  \\1.  ,al  eye  on  the 

rors  of  the  day  as  he  had  upon  the  allurements  of  the 
preceding.     Pyrrhus,  pleased  to  find  so  much  virtue  in 
one  he  had  considered  as  a  barbarian,  was  willin 
it  him  the  only  favour  which  he  knew  could    n 
him  happy  :  he  released  the  Roman  prisoners,  em; 
Ing  them  to  Fabriclus  alone,  upon  his  promise,  that  in 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  73 

case  the  senate  were  determined  to  continue  the  war  he 

might  reclaim  them  whenever  he  thought  proper. 

,  -   ,,          By  this  time  the  Roman  army  was  recovered 

from  its  late  defeat,  and  Sulpioius  ai\d  Decius, 

the  consuls  for  the  following  year,  were  placed 

a  head.  The  panic  which  had  formerly  seized  it  from 

elephants  now  began  to  wear  off,  and  both  armies 
met  near  the  city  of  Asculum,  both  pretty  nearly  equal 
in  numbers,  being  about  forty  thousand  strong  ;  and 
here  again,  after  a  long  and  obstinate  fight,  the  Grecian 
discipline  prevailed.  The  Romans,  being  pressed  on 
every  side,  particularly  by  the  elephants,  were  obliged  to 

c  to  their  camp,  leaving  six  thousand  men  dead  up- 
on the  field  of  battle.  Bat  the  enemy  had  no  great  rea- 
son to  boast  of  their  triumph,  as  they  had  four  thousand 

i  ;  so  that  Pyrrhus  replied  to  one  of  his  soldiers,  who 
was  congratulating  him  upon  his  victory,  "  One  such 
triumph  more,  and  I  shall  be  undone." 

This  battle  finished  the  campaign  ;  the  next  season 
began  with  equal  vigour  on  both  sides,  Pyrrhus  having 
received  new  succours  from  home.  While  the  two  ar- 
mies were  approaching,  and  yet  but  a  small  distance 
from  each  other,  a  letter  was  brought  to  old  Fabricius, 
the  Roman  general,  from  the  king's  physician,  import- 
ing, that  for  a  proper  reward,  he  would  take  him  off  oy 
poison,  and  thus  rid  the  Romans  of  a  powerful  enemy, 
and  a  dangerous  war.  Fabricius  felt  all  the  honest  in- 
dignation at  this  base  proposal  that  was  consistent  with 
his  former  character  ;  he  communicated  it  to  his  col- 
league, and  instantly  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  Pyrrhus 
should  be  informed  of  the  treachery  that  was  plotted 
against  him.  Accordingly  letters  were  dispatched  for 
that  purpose,  informing  Pyrrhus  of  the  affair,  and  al- 
ledging  the  unfortunate  choice  of  his  friends  and  ene- 
mies. That  he  had  trusted  and  promoted  murderers, 
while  he  carried  his  resentment  against  the  generous  and 
the  brave.  Pyrrhus  now  began  to  find  that  these  bold 
barbarians  were  by  degrees  schooled  into  refinement, 
and  would  not  suffer  him  to  be  their  superior  even  in 
generosity  :  fte  received  the  message  with  us 
G 


74  THE  HISTORY  OF  Tl 

amazement  at  their  candour  as  indignation  at  1 
cian's  treachery.   "  Admirable  Fabricius  1"  cried  he. 
"  would  be  as  easy  to  turn  the  sun  from  its  course,  as 
"  tliee  from  the  paths  of  honour."     Then  making   the 
proper  inquiry  among  his  servants,  and  having  discover- 
ed the  treason,  he  ordered  his  physician  to  be  t 
However,  not  to  be  outdone  in  magnanimity,  he  in 
diatcly  sent  to  Rome  all  his  prisoners  without  ransom, 
ami  again  desired  to  negociate   a  The  Ron 

on  the  other  hand,  refused  him  peace,  but  upon  the  s. 
conditions  they  had  offered  before. 

So  that,  after  an  interval  of  two  y 
ing  increased  his  army  by  new  K  t  ol 

.nny  to  oppose  the  march  of  Lentuh. 

.\:1,  while  he  himself  went  to  attack  Curius  Dt 
tus,  the  other  in  command,  before  1.: 

c-  up.     Hisprincip  -  to  surprise  the  e: 

by  night ;  but  unfortun. 

at  tin 

ihe  Roman  camp,  with  the  enemy  drawn  out  ready  to 
receive  him.     The  vanguard  of  both  met, 

in  which  the  Romans  had  the  ach 

oral  engagement  ensuing,  Pyrrhus,  finding  tin 
lance  of  the  victory  turning  still  against   him,  had  < 
more  recourse  to  his  elephants.     These,  however,  the 
Romans  were  then  too  well  acquainted  with,  to  fee  * 
vain  terrors  from  ;  and  having  found  that  fire 
most  cftectual  means  to  repel  them,  they  caused  a  num- 
ber of  balls  to  be  made,  composed  of  flax  and  i 
which  were  thrown  against  them  as  they  approached  the 
The  elephants,  th\  ihc 

Hume,  and  as  boldly  opposed  by  the  soldiers,  could  no 
longer  be  brought  on,  but  ran  back  upon  their  ov; 
my.  bearing  down  the  ranks,  and  filling  all  places  with 
terror  and  confusion.     Thus  victory  at  length  declared 
in  favour  of  Rome  :  Pyrrhus  in  vain  attempted  to 
the  flight  and  slaughter  of  his  troops  ;  he  lost  not  < 

!ty -three  thousand  of  his  best  soldiers,  but  his  camp 
was  also  taken.  This  served  as  a  new  lesson  to  the  Ro- 
mans, who  were  ever  open  to  improvement :  they 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          7p 

formerly  pitched  their  tents  without  order  ;  but  by  this 
new  capture  they  were  taught  to  measure  out  their 
ground,  and  fortify  the  whole  with  a  trench  ;  so  that 
many  of  their  succeeding  victories  are  to  be  ascribed  to 
their  improved  method  of  encamping. 

Pyrrhus  thus  finding  all  hopes  fruitless,  he  resolved  to 
leave  Italy,  where  he  found  only  desperate  enemies  and 
faithless  allies :  accordingly,  calling  together  the  Taren- 
tines,  he  informed  them  that  he  had  received  assurances 
from  Greece  of  speedy  assistance,  and  desiring  them  to 
wait  the  event  with  tranquility,  the  night  following  em- 
barked his  tioops,  and  returned  undisturbed  into  his  na- 

ungdom,  with  the  remains  of  his  shattered  forces, 

ing  a  garrison  in  Tarcnturn  merely  to  save  appear- 
ances, and  in  this  mariner  ended  the  war  with  Pyrrhus, 
after  six  years  continuance. 

As  for  the  poor  luxurious  Tarentines,  who  were  the 
original  promoters  of  this  war,  they  soon  began  to  find 

irse  enemy  in  the  garrison  that  was  left  for  their  de- 
fence, than  in  the  Romans  who  attacked  them  from  with- 
out. The  hatred  betwen  them  and  Milo,  who  command- 
ed their  citadel  for  Pyrrhus,  was  become  so  great,  that 
nothing  but  the  fear  of  their  old  inveterate  enemies  the 
Romans  could  equal  it.  In  this  distress  they  applied  to 
the  Carthaginians,  who,  with  a  large  fleet,  came  and 
blocked  up  the  port  of  Tarentum  ;  so  that  this  unfortu- 
nate people,  once  famous  through  Italy  for  their  refine- 
ments and  pleasures,  now  saw  themselves  contended  for 
by  three  different  armies,  without  the  choice  of  a  con- 
queror. At  length,  however,  the  Romans  found  means 
to  bring  over  the  garrison  to  their  interest ;  after  which 
they  easily  became  masters  of  the  city,  and  demolished 

/alls,  granting  the  inhabitants  liberty  and  protection 


76  THE  HISTORY  OF  TH-K 

CHAP.  XIV. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  frst  Puni* 
beginning  oft:  .  when  th<. 

grow  powerful  b[- 

[U.  C.  189-3 

THF,  Romans  having  destroyed  all  rival  pretei 
at  home,  began  to  punt  after  foreign  conqut 
Carthaginians  \vtre  at  that  time  r 

cst  part  of  Si  like  the  Romans,  only  wanted 

an  opportunity  of  •  r  to 

become  masters  of  the  v  IM  The  opporti. 

at  length  offered,     llicro,  k  vracuse,  one  of  the 

et  of  that  island,  wb  unconqucrcrl,  en- 

treated their  ;.'.  es.  n  little  people 

of  the  same  co  '  tl>cy  sent  him  supplies  bot 

sea  and  land.  -.incriincs,  on  the  other  hand,  to 

shield  off  impending  ru '. 
tection  of  Rome.     The  Ho 
mertines  worthy  of  the  nan; 

sing  to  assist  them, boldly  dt  tge: 

alledging  as  a  reason  ti 
lately  sent  to  the  southern  parts  of  Italy  a, 
mans.    In  this  manner  ..  Between;, 

two  powerful  states,  both  grown  too  great  to 
patient  spectators  of  each  others  incre. 

Carthage,  a  colony  of  the  Phoenicians,  \vas  built  on 
the   coast  of  Afri  the  place  where  Tunis  ; 

stands,  about  an  In  lore 

the  foundation  of  Rome.     As  it  had  been  long  p- 
ing  into  power,  so  it  had  extended  its  dominions  all 
along  the  coasts.     But  its  chief  strength  lay  in  its  I 
and  commerce  :  thus  circumstanced,  these  two  great 
powers  began  what  is  called  the  first  Puni  The 

Carthaginians,  possessed  of  gold  and  silver,  which  rr. 
be  exhausted  ;   the  Romans  famous  for  perse 
patriotism  and  poverty,  which  seemed  to  gather 
by  every  defeat. 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME. 

But  there  seemed  to  be  an  insurmountable  obstacle  to 
the  ambitious  views  of  Rome,  as  they  had  no  fleet,  or 
at  least  what  deserved  that  title  ;  while  the  Carthagin- 
ians had  the  entire  command  at  sea,  and  kept  all  the 
Maritime  towns  under  obedience.  In  such  a  situation 
any  people  but  the  Romans  would  have  rested  content- 
ed under  disadvantages  which  natune  seemed  to  have 
imposed  :  bat  nothing  could  conquer  or  intimidate  them. 
They  began  to  apply  themselves  to  maritime  affairs  ; 
and,  though  without  shipwrights  to  build,  or  seamen  to 
navigate  a  fleet,  they  resolved  to  surmount  every  obsta- 
cle with  inflexible  perseverance.  A  Carthaginian  vessel 
happened  to  be  in  a  storm  driven  ashore  ;  and  this  was 
sufficient  to  serve  as  a  model.  The  consul  Duillius  was 
the  first  who  ventured  to  sea  with  his  new  constructed 
armanent ;  and,  though  far  inferior  to  the  enemy  in 
the  management  of  his  fleet,  yet  he  gained  the  first  na- 
val victory,  the  Carthaginians  losing  fifty  of  their,  ships, 
and  the  undisturbed  sovereignty  of  the  sea,  which  they 
valued  more. 

But  the  conquest  of  Sicily  was  only  to  be  obtained 
by  humbling  the  power  of  Cafthage  at  home.  For  this 
reason  the  senaVe  resolved  to  carry  the  war  into  Africa 
itself,  and  accordingly  they  sent  Regulus  and  ?*lanlius 
with  afltet  of  three  hundred  sail  to  make  the  invasion. 
Regulus  was  reckoned  the  most  consummate  warrioi 
that  Rome  could  then  produce,  and  a  professed  example 
of  frugal  severity.  His  patriotism  was  still  greater 
than  his  temperance  ;  all  the  private  passions  seemed  ex- 
tinguished in  him,  or  they  were  all  swallowed  up  in  one 
great  ruling  affection,  the  love  of  his  country.  The  two 
generals  set  sail  with  their  fleet,  which  was  the  greatest 
that  had  ever  left  an  Italian  port,  carrying  an  hundred 
and  forty  thousand  men.  They  were  met  by  the  Car- 
thaginians, with  a  fleet  as  powerful,  and  men  better  used 
to  the  sea.  While  the  fight  continued  rather  between 
the  ships  than  the  men  at  a  distance,  the  Carthaginians  « 
seemed  successful  ;  but  when  the  Romans  came  to  grap-  . 
pie  with  them,  the  difference  between  a  mercenary  ar-  T\  ? 
so y,  ajptbne  that  fought  for  fame,  was  apparent.  The-iNsJ^ 


78  THL  Iri  STORY  Or   THE 

resolution  of  the  Romans  was  crowned  with  suet 
enemy's  fleet  were  dispersed,  and  fifty-four  of  their 
sels  taken.     The  consequence  of  this  victory  was  as  im- 
mediate descent  upon  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  the 
ture  of  the  city  Clupca,  tot;<.  ;i  twenty  thousand 

men,  who  were  made  prisoners  of  war. 

The  senate  bcin;;  informed  of  these  great  suet 
and  applied  to  for  fresh  instructions,  command- 
lius  back  to  Italy,  in  order  to  superintend  the 
war;  and  directed  that  Regulus  should  continue  hi 
rica,  to  prosecute  his  victories  there. 

A  buttle  ensued,  in  which  Carthage  was  once  more 
defeated,  and  some  of  iis  best  troops  were  cut  of 
Ires-h  victory  contributed  to  throw  them  into  the  utmost 

air;  more   t!>  .    of  their  towns  subnV: 

to  the   Roman::.     In  this  distress  the  ( 
destitute  of  g  <1  to 

Lacedcmon,  oiTci.  mmand  -  rmics  to 

Xantippus,  a  general  of  great  experience,  who  ui 
took  to  conduct  Or. 

This  gem  s  the  mai  roper 

instructions!;  tiicirmen:  heassured  then 

their  armies   were  hitherto   overthrown,   not   by    the 
strength  of  the  enemy,  but  by  the  ignorance  of  their  own 
generals  ;  he  therefore  only  required  a  re 
to  his  orders,  and  assured  them  of  an  easy- 
whole  city  seemed  once  more  revived  from  despei, 
ry,  by  the  exhortations  of  a  single  stran  soof\ 

from  hope  grew  into  confidence.     This  was  the  spirit 
*he  Grecian  general  wished  to  excite  in  them  ;  SL> 
when  he  saw  them  thus  ripe  for  the  engagement,  he 
joyfully  took  the  field.     The  Lacedemoi.  the 

most  skilful  disposition  of  his  forces;  he  placed  his  ca- 
valry in  the  wings  ;  he  disposed  the  elephants  at  proper 
intervals  behind  the  line  of  the  heavy  armed 
and,  bringing  up  the   light  armed  troops  before,  he  or- 
dered theny  to  retire  through  the  line  of  infantry 
they  had  discharged  their  weapons.     At  length  both  ar- 
mies engaging,  after  a  long  and  obstinate  .the 
Romans  were  overthrown  with  dreadful  slaugi 
greatest  part  of  their  army  being  destroyed,  r.' 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         *>• 

Ijjs  himself  taken  prisoner.  Several  other  distresses  of 
the  Romans  followed  soon  after  this.  They  lost  their 
fleet  in  a  storm  ;  and  Agrigentum,  their  principal  town 
in  Sicily,  was  taken  by  Karthalo,  the  Carthaginian  gen- 
eral. They  undertook  to  build  a  new  fleet,  which  also 
shared  the  fate  of  the  former,  the  mariners,  as  yet  un- 
acquainted with  the  Mediterranean  shores,  drove  it  up- 
on quicksands  ;  and  soon  after  the  greatest  part  perish' 
ed  in  a  storm. 

Meantime,  the  Carthaginians  being  thus  successful^ 
were  desirous  of  a  new  treaty  for  peace,  hoping  to  have 
better  terms  than  those  insisted  upon  by  ReguJus.  For 
this  purpose,  they  supposed  that  he,  whom  they  had  now 
for  four  years  kept  in  a  dungeon  confined  and  chained, 
would  be  a  proper  solicitor.  It  was  expected  that,  be- 
ing  wearied  with  imprisonment  and  bondage,  he  would 
gladly  endeavour  to  persuade  his  countrymen  to  a  dis- 
continuance of  a  war,  which  only  prolonged  his  captiv- 
ity. He  was  accordingly  sent  with  their  ambassadors 
to  Rome,  but  with  a  promise,  previously  exacted  from 
him,  to  return  in  case  of  being  unsuccessful.  He  was 
even  given  to  understand  that  his  life  depended  upon 
the  success  of  his  negociation. 

When  this  old  general,  together  with  the  ambassa 
dors  of  Carthage,  approached  Rome,  numbers  of  hi 
friends  came  out  to  meet  and  congratulate  his  retur 
Their  acclamations  resounded  through  the  city  ;  b 
Regulus  refused,  with  settled  melancholy,  to  enter  th 
gates.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  was  entreated  on  eve 
side  to  visit  once  more  His  little  dwelling,  and  share 
that  joy  which  ni^re turn  had  inspired.  He  persisted 
saying,  that  he  was  now  but  a  slave  belonging  to  the 
Carthaginians,  and  unfit  to  partake  in  the  liberal  honours 
of  his  country.^  The  senate  assembling  without  the 
walls,  as  usual,  to  give  audience  to  the  ambassadors, 
Regulus  opened  his  commission,  as  he  had  been  directed  i 
by  the  Carthaginian  council,  and  their  ambassadors/ se.-  J 
conded  his  proposals.  The  senate  were  by  this  ym& 
themselves  weary  of  a  war,  which  had  been  protracte<j  ] 
above  eight  years,  and  were  no  way  disinctinablejto/a01 
peace  It  oj»ly  remained  for  Regulus  himself  tol*iv$ 


30  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

his  opinion,  who,  when  it  came  to  his  turn  to  speak)  to 
the  surprise  of  all  the  world,  gave  his  voice  for  contin- 
uing the  war.     So  unexpected  an  advice  not  a  little  dis- 
turbed the  senate  :  they  pitied  as  well  as  admired  a  man 
who  had  used  such  eloquence  against  his  private  inter- 
est, and  could  not  conclude  upon  a  measure  which 
to  terminate  in  his  ruin.     But  he  soon  relieved  their 
embarrasments,  by  breaking  off  the  treaty,  and  by  ri 
it)  order  to  return  to  his  bonds  and  confinen 
was  in  vain  that  the   senate  and  all   his  dearc^ 
entreated  his  stay  ;  he  still  repressed  the! 
Marcia,  his  wife,  with  her  little  children,  filled  the 
with  their  lamentations,  and  vainly  entreated  to  be  per- 
mitted to  see  him  ;  he  still  obstinately  persisted  in  k- 
ing  his  promise  ;  and,  though  sufficiently  apprised  of 
the  tortures  that  awaited  his  return,  without  embra. 
his  family,  or  taking  leave  of  his  friends,  he  departed 
with  the  ambassadors  for  Carthage. 

Nothing  could  equal  the  fury  and  the  disappointment 
of  the  Carthaginians,  when  they  wen  .  '  heir 

ambassadors  that  ReguUs,  instead  of  hastening  a  pr 
had  given  his  opinion  for  continuing  th<  hey 

accordingly  prepared  to  punish   his  conduct  with  the 
most  studied  tortur  -.  kis  eyelids  were  cut  oft. 

then  he  was  remanded  to  prison.     II  tcr  some 

days,  again  brought  out,  and  exposed  with  his  face  op- 
posite the  burning  sun.     At  last,  when  n 
tigued  with  studying  all  the  arts  of  torture  put 

into  a  barrel  stuck  full  of  nails,  that  poii.  :ds  -, 

and  in  this  painful  condition  he  continued  till  he  died. 

Both  sides  now  took  up  arms  with  more  than  former 
animosity.     At  length    the  Roman  perseverance 
crowned  with  success  ;  one  victory  followed  on  the  back 
of  another.    Fabius  Buteo,  the  consul,  once  more  sh< 
them  the  way  to  naval  victory,  by  defeating 
squadron  of  the  enemy's  ships  ;  but  Lutatiu^ 
gained  a  victory  still  more  complete,  in  which  the  \ 
er  of  Carthage  seemed  totally  destroyed  at  sea,  by  the 
Toss  of  an  hvindred  and  twenty  ships,  according  to  the 
smallest  computation.     This  loss  brought  the  t 
mans  to  sue  for  peace,  which  Rome  thought  proper  to 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  81 

grant ;  but  still  inflexible  ia  its  demands,  exacted  the 
same  conditions  which  Regulus  had  formerly  offered  at 
the  gates  of  Carthage.  These  were,  that  they  should  lay 
(!o\vn  a  thousand  talents  of  silver  to  defray  the  charge 
of  the  war,  and  should  pay  two  thousand  two  hundred 
more  in  ten  years  time  :  that  they  should  quit  Sicily, 
v/ith  all  such  islands  as  they  possessed  near  it :  that  they 
should  never  make  war  against  the  allies  of  Rome,  or 
come  with  any  vessels  of  war  within  the  Roman  domin- 
ions ;  and  lastly,  that  all  their  prisoners  and  deserters 
jj  £,  should  be  delivered  up  without  ransom.  To 
these  hard  conditions  the  Carthaginians,  now 
exhausted,  readily  subscribed  ;  and  thus  end' 
ed  the  first  Punic  war,  which  had  lasted  twenty -four 
years,  and  in  some  measure  had  drained  both  nations  of 
e-very  resource  to  begin  another. 

p 

CHAP.  XV. 

•-•  end  cf  the  first  Punic  War,  to  the  end  of 
the  second. 

THE  \varbcingendedbetween  the  Carthaginians  and 
the  Romans,  a  profound  peace  ensued,  and  in  about 
*>ix  years  after,  the  temple  of  Janus  was  shut  for  the  se- 
cond time  since  the  foundation  of  the  city.  The  Romans, 
being  thus  in  friendship  with  all  nations,  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  turning  to  the  arts  of  peace  :  they  now  began 
to  have  a  relish  for  poetry,  the  first  liberal  art  which 
rises  in  every  civilized  nation,  and  the  first  also  that  de- 
cays. Hitherto  they  had  been  entertained  only  with 
the  rude  drolleries  of  their  lowest  buffoons  :  they  had 
sports  called  Fescennini,  in  which  a  few  debauched  ac- 
tors made  their  own  parts,  while  raillery  and  smut  sup- 
plied the  place  of  humour.  To  these  a  composition  of 
a  higher  kind  succeeded,  which  they  called  satire,  which 
was  a  kind  of  dramatic  poem,  in  which  the  characters 
of  the  great  were  particularly  pointed  out,  and  made 
an  object  of  derision  to  the  vulgar.  After  these  came 
•  dy  and  comedy,  which  were  borrowed  from  the 


82  THE  HISTORY  OF  Tl 

y  £     Greek  ;  and,  indeed,  the  first  dramatic  ] 
'     '    of  Rome,  whose  name  was  Livius  Ami 

cus,  was   by  birth  a    Grecian.     The   instant 
these   fitter  kinds  of  composition  appeared,  t! 
people   rejected  their  former  impurities  ..vin. 

From  thence  forward  they  laboured  upon  the 
model ;  and  though  they  were  never  able  to  i  i 
masters  in  dramatic  composition,  th< 
them   in  many  of  the  more  soothif. 
Elegiac,  pastoral,  and  didactic  cons; 
assume  new  beauties  in  the  H 
not  that  rude  kind  of  dialogue  alrcad-. 
nobler  sort  invented  by  Lucillh*,  was  all  their  <•• 

While   they  were  thus  admitting  the  arts  of  peace, 
they  were  not  unmindful  of  making  fresh  prt 
for  war  :  all  intervals  of  ease  seemed  rather  to  r. 
vigour  for  new  designs,  than  to  n 

pidity.     The  Illyi  the  first  people  upon  whom 

they  tried  their  strength,  after  some  continuance  of 
0-      peace.     That  nation,  which  had  long  plunder- 
ed the  merchants  of  the  Mediterranean  with 
impunity,  happened  to  make  dey  redations  upon  some  of 
the  trading  subjects  of  Rome  :  this  being  compk 
of  to  Teuta,  the  queen  of  the  country,  si  d  of 

granting  redress,  ordered  the  ambassador  that  was  sent 
to  demand  restitution  to  be  murdered.     A  war  ensued, 
in  which  the  Romans  were  victorious:  most  of  the  Il- 
ly ric  towns  were  surrendered  to  the  consuls,  ar 
at  last  concluded,  by  which  the  greatest  part  of  the  c 
try   was  ceded  to  Ron  rly  tribute  was  ex 

for  the   rest,  and  pro'  '.the  Illy:, 

should  not  sail  beyond  the  i  ..s  with  more  t 

two  barks,  and  those  unarmed. 

The  Gauh  were  the  next  people  that  incurred  the 
displeasure  of  the  Romans.     Supposing  a  time  of  peace, 
•when  the  armies  were  disbanded,  a  proper  s< 
new  irruptions,  this  barbarous  people  invited  i 
ces  from  beyond  the  Alps,  and  entering  Elruria,  w 
all  with  fire  and  sword,  till  they  came   within   about 
three  days  journey  of  Rome.     A  praetor  and  a  cc 
\vere  sent  to  oppose  them,  who,  now 


COMMON  WEATH  OF  ROME.  81 

improved  arts  of  war,  were  enabled  to  surround  the 
Gauls,  \vho  still  retained  their  primeval  barbarity.  It 
\vas  in  vain  that  those  hardy  troops,  who  had  nothing 
but  their  courage  to  protect  them,  formed  two  fronts  to 
oppose  their  adversaries  ;  their  naked  bodies  and  undis- 
ciplined forces  were  unable  to  withstand  the  shock  of  an 
enemy  completely  armed,  and  skilled  in  military  evolu- 
tions. A  miserable  slaughter  ensued,  in  which  forty 
thousand  were  killed,  and  ten  thousand  taken  prisoners. 
This  victory  was  followed  by  another  gained  over  them 
by  Marcellus,  in  which  he  killed  Viridomarus  their  king, 
with  hi's  own  hand,  and  gained  the  third  royal  spoils  that 
were  yet  obtained  at  Rome.  These  conquests  forced 
them  to  beg  a  peace,  the  conditions  of  which  served 
greatly  lo  enrich  the  empire.  Thus  the  Romans  went 
on  with  success  ;  they  had  now  totally  recovered  their 
former  losses,  and  only  wanted  an  enemy  worthy  of  their 
arms  to  begin  a  new  war. 

The  Carthaginians  had  only  made  a  peace  because 
they  were  no  longer  able  to  continue  the  war.  They 
therefore  took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  breaking  the 
treaty  ;  they  besieged  Sagumum,  a  city  of  Spain,  which 
had  been  in  alliance  with  Rome  ;  and  though  desired  to 
desist,  prosecuted  their  operations  with  vigour.  Am- 
bassadors were  sent  in  consequence  from  Rome  to  Car- 
thage, complaining  of  the  infraction  of  their  articles, 
and  requiring  that  Hannibal,  the  Carthaginian  general, 
who  had  advised  this  measure,  should  be  delivered  up  ; 
which  being  refused,  both  sides  prepared  for  a  second 
Punic  war. 

The  Carthaginians  trusted  the  managment  of  it  on 
their  side  to  Hannibal,  the  son  of  Hamilcar.  This  ex- 
traordinary man  had  been  made  the  sworn  foe  of  Rome 
almost  from  his  infancy  ;  for,  while  yet  very  young,  his 
father  brought  him  before  the  altar,  and  obliged  him  to 
take  an  oath,  that  he  never  would  be  in  friendship  with 
the  Romans,  nor  desist  from  opposing  their  power,  un- 
til he  or  they  should  be  no  more.  On  his  first  appear- 
ance in  the  fiield.  he  reconciled,  in  his  own  person,  the 
most  just  method  of  commanding,  with  the  most  per- 
fect obedience  to  his  superiors.  Thus  he  was  equally 


84  THE  HISTORY  OF  T) 

beloved  by  his  generals  and  the  troops  he  was  app. 
ed  to  lead.     He  was  possessed  of  the  greatest  COL: 
in  opposing  danger,  and  the  greatest  presence  of  i 
in  retiring  from  it.     No  fatigue  was  able  to  subdue  his 
body,  nor  any  misfortune  to  break  his  spirit  :   equally 
patient  of  heat  and  cold,  he  only  took  susu 
tent  nature,  and  not  to  delight  his  appetite.     I  li- 
the best  horseman,  and  the  swiftest  runner  of  his  t; 
This  great  general,  who  is  consi' 
:"ul  of  antiquity,  having  ove: 

<   army  of  various  language 

arry  the  war  into  1  the   Hon. 

befpre  carried  it  into  the  dominions  of  Cartha- 
this  purpose  leaving  Hanno  with  a  sufli  c  to 

*:uard  his  conquests  in  Spain,  he  crossed  the  1 
-nountains  into  Gaul,  \vith  of  fifty  thoi: 

,  and  nine  thousand  horse.     He  quickly  • 
that  country,  which  was   th< 

!  with  nations  that  \ 

in  vain  the  Rhone,  with  its  1 1  cnts,  and 

covered  with  enemies,  or  the   Dura  branched  out  into 
numberless  channels,  opposed  hr  liem 

all  with  perseverance,  and  in  ten  days  aril 
of  the  Alps,  over  which  he  was  to   expK 
sage  into  Italy.     It  was  in  the  midst  c 
astonishing  project  was  undertaken, 
new  horrors  to  a  scene  that 

with  objects  of  ii;  i'he  prodigious  height,  and 

tremendous  steepness  of  the  mount 
snow,  the  people  i 
with  long  am! 

pressed  the  beholders  \\iih  astoni-hmcnt  ar.J.  it- 
nothing  was  capable  uf  subduing  the  courage  of    the 
Carthaginian  general  ;   fur,  at  the  cud  oi 
spent  in  crossing  the  Alps,  he  found  himself  in  the  p! 
of  Italy  with  about   half  his  army  remaining,  the 
having  died  of  the  cold,  or  been  cut  cfi  ' 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  at  Rome,  that  1  i 
the  head  of  an  immense  army,  was  crossing  I 
in  order  to  invade  thclv  dominions,  the  senate  sc 


COMMONWEALTH  'OF  ROME.          8-» 

to  oppose  him,  who  was  obliged  to  retreat  with  conside- 
rable loss.  In  the  mean  time,  Hannibal,  being  thus 
victorious,  took  the  most  prudent  precautions  to  in- 
crease his  army,  giving  orders  always  to  spare  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  Gauls,  while  his  depredations  were  per- 
mitted upon  those  of  Rome  ;  and  this  so  pleased  that 
simple  people,  that  they  declared  for  him  in  great  num- 
bers, and  flocked  to  his  standard  with  alacrity. 

The  second  battle  was  fought  upon  the  banks  of  the 
river  Trebia.  The  Carthaginian  general  being  appris- 
ed of  the  Roman  impetuosity,  of  which  he  always  avail- 
ed himself  in  almost  every  engagement,  had  sent  off  a 
body  of  a  thousand  horse,  each  with  a  foot  soldier  be- 
.  across  the  river,  to  ravage  the  enemy's  country, 
ind  provoke  them  to  engage.  The  Romans  quickly 
routed  this  force,  who,  seeming  to  be  defeated,  took  the 
river,  and  were  as  eagerly  pursued  by  Sempronius,  the 
consul.  It  was  not  however,  till  his  army  was  got  up- 
on the  opposite  bank,  that  he  perceived  himself  half 
conquered  already,  his  men  being  fatigued  with  wading 
up  to  their  armpits,  and  quite  benumbed  by  the  intense 
coldness  of  the  water.  A  total  rout  ensued  ;  twenty- 
six  thousand  of  the  Romans  were  either  killed  by  the 
enemy,  or  drowned  in  attempting  to  repass  the  river. 
A  body  of  ten  thousand  men  were  all  that  survived  ; 
who,  finding  themselves  inclosed  on  every  side,  broke 
desperately  through  the  enemy's  ranks,  and  fought  re- 
treating, till  they  found  shelter  in  the  city  of  Placentia, 

The  third  defeat  the  Romans  sustained  was  at  the 
lake  of  Thrasmene  ;^near  to  which  was  a  chain  of  moun- 
tains, and,  between  these  and  the  lake,  u  narrow  passage 
leading  to  a  valley  that  was  embosomed  in  hills.  It 
was  upon  these  hills  that  Harynibul  disposed  his  best 
troops,  and  it  was  into  this,  valley  that  Flaminius,  the 
Roman  general,  led  lylS  men  to  attack  him.  A  dispo- 
sition every  way  ?-0  favorable  for  the  Carthaginians,  was 
also  assiste^  ^*y  accident ;  for  a  mist  rising  from  the 
lake,  k  cpt  ^e  Romans  from  seeing  their  enemies ;  while 
*^.e  army  upon  the  mountains,  being  above  its  influence, 
saw  the  whole  disposition  of  their  opponents.  The  foi- 
tune  of  the  day  was  such  as  might  be  expected  from  the 
H 


36  THE  HISTORY  OK    li 

conduct  of  the  two  generals ;  the  Roman  army  was 
broken  and  slaughtered,  almost  before  they  could  per- 
ceive the  enemy  that  destroyed  them.  About  fifteen 
thousand  Romans,  together  with  Flaminius  himself, 
fell  in  the  valley,  and  six  thousand  more  were  obliged 
to  yield  themselves  prisoners  of  v. 

Upon  the  news  oft!  -me,  after  the  gene- 

ral consternation  was  allayed,  the  senate,  upon  mature 
deliberation,  resolved  to  elect  a  commander  with  abso- 
lute authority,  in  whom  they  might  repose  their  last  and 
greatest  expectations.     Their  choice   fell   upc 
M.t \  man  of  greui  courage,  but  with 

mixture  of  caution.     He  was  apprised  that  the  only 
to  humble  th<  I  such  a  distance  i: 

home  \vai  rather  ! .-.  'hem  than  by 

•his  purpose  L 

':>le  to  the  ene:  \\  hen- 

they  moved,  he  moved,  v 
aed  their  quarters,  and  cut  off  tin 
Hv  these 
ed  Hannibal  among  mountains,  w  he  re  it  \w-  impos- 

and  yet  from  which  it  was 
ble  to  extricate  his  army  withoir 

exigence  nothing  but  one  of  tl- 
,  which  fall  to  the   lot  of  great  abilities  only  t" 
vent,  could  save  him  :  he  ordered  a   number  of  s 
faggots  and  lighted  torches  to  be  lied  to  the  horns  of 

ihousand  oxen  that   he  had  in  his    camp,  and 
they  should  be  dri- 

ing  their  heads,  and  running  up  the  sides  of  the  moun- 
,  seemed  to  fill  the  -viih 

iirc  ;  while  the  sentinels  that  wt  .  the 

approaches  of  the  mountain,  seeing  such  a  number  of 
flames  advancing  towards  their  posts,  fled  in  consu 
lion,  supposing  the  whole  body  of  ihe   t 
arm§  lo  overwhelm  them.     By 

bal  drew  off  his  army,  and  escaped  through  the  defiles, 
that  lead  beneath  the  hills,  though  with 
damage  to  his  rear. 

Soon  after,  Fabius  was  obliged  to  lay  down  his  office, 
•ime  being  expired,  and  Tercntius  Varro 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  87 

sen  by  the  majority  to  succeed  to  the  command.  This 
Terentius  Varro  was  a  man  sprung  from  the  dregs  of 
the  people,  with  nothing  but  his  confidence  and  riches 
to  recommend  him.  With  him  was  joined  ^Emilius 
Paulus,  of  a  disposition  entirely  opposite:  experienced 
in  the  field,  cautious  in  action,  and  impressed  with  a 
thorough  contempt  for  the  abilities  of  his  Plebeian  col- 
league. 

The  Romans,  finding  themselves  enabled  to  bring  a 
,  Detent  force  into  the  field,  being  almost  ninety  thou- 
sand strong,  now  again  resolved  to  meet  Hannibal,  who 
was  at  this  time  encamped  near  the  village  of  Cannae, 
with  a  wind  that  for  acert:un  season  blows  still  one  way 
in  his  rear,  which  raising  great  clouds  of  dust  from  the 
parched  plains  behind,  he  knew  must  greatly  distress  an 
approaching  enemy.  In  this  situation  he  waited  the 
coming  up  of  the  Romans  with  an  army  of  forty  thou- 
sand foot,  and  half  that  number  of  cavalry.  The  two 
consuls  soon  appeared  to  his  wish,  dividing  their  forces 
into  two  parts,  and  agreeing  to  take  the  command  every 
day  by  turns.  On  the  first  day  of  their  arrival,  it  fall- 
ing to  the  lot  of  jEmilius  to  command,  he  was  entirely 
averse  to  engaging.  The  next  day,  however,  it  being 
come  to  Varro's  turn  to  command,  he,  without  asking 
his  colleague's  concurrence,  gave  the  signal  for  bat- 
tic  ;  and  passing  the  river  Aufidus  that  lay  between 
both  armies,  put  his  forces  in  array.  The  battle  began 
with  the  light  armed  infantry  ;  the  horse  engaged  soon 
after  ;  and  the  Roman  cavalry  being  unable  to  stand 
against  those  of  Nurrudia,  the  legions  came  up  to  rein- 
force them.  It  was  then  that  the  conflict  became  gen- 
eral :  the  Roman  soldiers  for  a  long  time  endeavoured, 
but  in  vain,  to  penetrate  the  centre,  where  the  Gauls 
and  Spaniards  fought ;  which  Hannibal  observing,  or- 
dered part  of  those  troops  to  give  way,  and  to  permit 
the  Romans  to  embosom  themselves  within  a  chosen 
body  of  his  Africans,  whom  he  had  placed  on  their  wing, 
so  as  to  surround  them  ;  upon  that  a  terrible  slaughter 
:ii  to  ensue  of  the  Romans,  fatigued  with  repeated 
attacks  from  the  Africans,  who  were  fresh  and  vigorous. 
At  last  the  rout  became  general  in  every  part  of  the 


88  THE  lilSTOIlV  OF  TI 

Koman  army  ;  the  boastings  of  Varro  were  now  no 
longer  heard  ;  while  .tnulius,  who  had  been  terribly 
wounded  by  a  slinger  in  the  very  beginning  of  the  en- 
gagement, still  feebly  led  on  his  body  of  horse,  and  did 
all  that  could  be  done  to  make  head  against  the  cnt 
however,  being  unable  to  sk  on  horseback,  he  was  for- 
ced to  dismount.  It  was  in  this  deplorable  condition  of 
things,  that  one  Lentulas,  a  tribune  of  the  army,  as  he 
was  Hying  on  horseback  from  the  enemy,  which  at  some 
distance  pursued  him,  met  .Knulius  sitting  upon  a  stone, 
covered  over  with  blood  and  wounc  ;  for 

the  coming  up  of  the  pursuers.     »*  .fcmilins,"  cried  this 
generous  tribune,   "  you  at  least  are  guiltless  of 

y's  slaughter:  take  my  horse  and  ily."     "I  thank 
ee,  Lentulus,"   cried  the  dying  consul,  "all  is  over, 
•  my  part  is  chosen  :  go,  I  command  the- 
11  senate  from  me  to  fortify 
li  of  the  conqueror.     Tell 
"  whilfc  living,  ever  remcmbcri 

"  dying,  approves  it."     While  he  was  yet  speaking  the 
enemy  approached  ;  and  Lentul< 

view,  sa\v  the  consul  expire,  feebly  fighting  in  the  midst 
of  hundreds.     In  this  battle  the  1 
sandmen,  and  so  many  knights,  that  it  is 
sent  three  bushels  of  gold  rings  to  Carthage,  w 
those  of  this  order  had  worn  on  their  fingers. 

\Yhen  the  first  consternation  was  abated  after  this 
dreadful  blow  at  Rome,  the  senate  came  to  a  general 
resolution  to  create  a  dictator,  in  order  to  give  strength 
to  their  government.     A  short  time  after,  Varro  a: 
ed,  having  left  behind  him  the  wretched  remains  ot 
army  ;  and,  as  he  had  been  the  prin  e  of  the 

late  calamity,  it  was  natural  to  suppose  that  the  si 
would  severely  reprimand  the  rashness  of  his  conduct. 
But  far  otherwise  1  3rhe  Romans  went  out  in  multitudes 
to  meet  him  ;  and  the  senate  returned  him  thanks  that 
he  did  not  despair  of  the  safety  of  Rome.     Fabius,  who 
was  considered  as  the  shield  of  Rome,  and  Marcelh. 
the   sword,  were  appointed  to  lead  the  armies  ;    and 
though  Hannibal  once  more  offered  them  peace,  they 
.refused  it,  but  upon  condition  that  he  should  quit  I1. 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.  89 

Terms  similar  to  those  they  had  formerly  insisted  upon 
from  Pyrrhus. 

In  the  mean  time,  Hannibal,  either  finding  the  im- 
possibility of  marching  directly  to  Rome,  or  willing  to 
give  his  forces  rest  after  such  a  mighty  victory,  led 
them  to  Capua,  where  he  resolved  to  winter.  This  city 
had  long  been  considered  as  the  nurse  of  luxury,  and 
the  corrupter  of  all  military  virtue  ;  here,  therefore,  a 
new  scene  of  pleasure  opened  to  his  barbarian  troops  ; 
and  they  at  once  gave  themselves  up  to  the  intoxication* 
till,  from  being  hardy  veterans,  they  became  infirm 
rioters. 

Hitherto  we  have  found  this  great  man  successful ; 
but  now  we  are  to  reverse  the  picture,  and  survey  him 
struggling  with  accumulated  misfortunes,  and  at  latit 
sinking  beneath  them. 

His  first  loss  was  at  the  seige  of  Nola,  where  Marcel- 
lus  the  praetor  made  a  successful  sally.  He  some  time 
after  attempted  to  raise  the  seige  of  Capua,  and  attack-/ 
ed  the  Romans  in  their  trenches,  but  he  was  repulsed 
with  considerable  loss.  He  then  made  a  fi*  .it  of  goiin^ 
to  besiege  Rome  ;  but  finding  a  superior  army  ready  to 
"eceive  him,  he  was  obliged  to  retire.  For  some  years 
after,  be  fought  with  various  success ;  Marcel- 

U.  C.    iU9)  his  opponent,    sometimes    gaining,   and 
544.     sometimes  losing  the  advantage,  but  coming 
to  no  decisive  engagement. 

The  senate  of  Carthage  at  length  came  to  a  resolu- 
ion  of  sending  his  brother  Asdrubal  to  his  assistance, 
with  a  body  offerees  drawn  out  of  Spain.  Asdrubal's 
march  being  made  known  to  the  consuls  Livius  and  Ne- 
ro, they  went  against  him  with  great  expedition,  and 
surrounding  him  in  a  place,  into  which  he  was  led  by  the 
treachery  of  his  guides,  they  cut  his  whole  army  to 
pieces.  Hannibal  had  long  expected  those  succours  with 
impatience ;  and  the  very  night  on  which  he  had  been 
assured  of  his  brother's  arrival,  Nero  ordered  Asdru- 
bal's head  to  be  cut  off,  and  thrown  into  his  brother's 
camp.  The  Carthaginian  general  now  therefore  began 
to  perceive  the  approaches  of  the  downfall  of  Carthage, 
oiid  could  not  help  with  a  sigh,  observing  to  those  'about 
H  2 


00  THK   HISTORY  OF  TI, 

him,  lhat  fortune  seemed  fatigued  with  her 

favours. 

In  the  mean  time,  fortune  seemed  to  favour  the  Ro- 
man arms  in  other  pa;  cllus  took  the  city  of 
Syracuse  in  Sicily.  d  by  the  i: 
and  the  fires  of  Archimides  ti. 

The  inhabitants  were  put  to  the  sword,  ; 
the  rest  Archimides  hi 
in  his  study  by  a  Roman  soldier 
cral,  was  not  a  little  grieved  at  his  death.     A 
for  letters  at  thai  ti 

er  ranks  of  people  at  Rome.     He  therefore  ordered  his 
body  to  be  honour  ul  a  tomb  to  be  crt 

to  his  memory,  which  his  o\\n  wtiks  ha\e  IOM: 
vivcd. 

As  to  their  fortune  while  they 

appeared  doubtful,  tuo  of  ti  and 

Clav 

much  un  unck 

ian  general,  yet  they  soon  recovercu 
under  the  the 

office  of  proconsul  to  that  kingdom,  at 
cry  one  else  was  willing  to  was 

now  but  twenty-four  years  old,  had  all  the 
requisite  for  ; 

he  united  the  greatest «.  Jei  - 

ness  ;  superior  to  Hunnibal 

mos1  .A  in  those  of  w.»r.     l\>.  >ccn 

killed  in  Spain,  so  that  he  seemed  to  have  an  hereditary 
n  to  attack  that  country.     He  therefore  appeared 
irresUtable,  obtaining  r.  .a  victoric  'adu- 

ing  still  more  by  his  genei 
lent  disposition,  than  by  the  force  of  his  arms. 

It  was  shortly  after  that  he  returned  with  an  army 
from  the  conquest  of  Spain,  and  was  made  consul  at  the 
<  i'  twenty-nine.     It  was  at  first  supposed  he  iiv 
, meeting   Hannibal  in  Italy,  and  that  he  would  at- 
tempt driving  him  from  thence  ;  but  he  had  &\\ 
I     a  wiser  plan,  which  was  to  carry  the  war 
Africa,  aiid,  while  the  Carthaginians  kept  an  army  Deal 
)> 011.0,  to  makf.  them  tremble  for  their  OWT 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          91 

Scipio  was  not  long  in  Africa  without  employment  ;• 
for  in  a  short  time  Hanno  opposed  him,  but  he  was  de- 
feated and  slain.  Syphax,  the  usurper  of  Numidia, 
led  up  a  large  army  against  him.  The  Roman  general 
for  a  time  declined  fighting,  till,  finding  an  opportunity, 
he  set  fire  to  the  enemy's  tents,  and  attacking  them  in 
the  midst  of  the  confusion,  killed  forty  thousand  men, 
and  took  six  thousand  prisoners. 

The  Carthaginians  now,  beginning  to  be  terrified  at 
their  repeated  defeats,  and  the  fame  of  Scipio' s  success- 
es, determined  to  recal  Hannibal,  the  great  champion, 
out  of  Italy,  in  order  to  oppose  the  Romans  at  home. 
Deputies  were  accordingly  dispatched,  with  a  positive 
command  for  him  to  return  and  oppose  the  Roman  gen- 
eral, who  at  that  time  threatened  Carthage  with  a  seige. 
Nothing  could  exceed  the  regret  and  disappointment  of 
Hannibal  upon  receiving  this  order.  However,  he  obey- 
ed the  order  of  his  infatuated  country  with  the  same 
submission  that  the  meanest  soldier  would  have  done, 
and  took  leave  of  Italy  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  after 
ter  having  kept  possession  of  the  most  beautiful  parts  of 
it  for  above  fifteen  years. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Leptis,  in  Africa,  from  whence  he 
lied  to  Adrumetum,  he  at  last  approached  Zama,  a 
city  within  five  days  journey  of  Carthage.  Scipio,  in 
the  mean  time,  led  his  army  to  meet  him,  joined  by 
Massinissa  with  six  thousand  horse ;  and,  to  shew  his 
rival  in  the  field  how  little  he  feared  his  approach,  sent 
back  the  spies  which  were  sent  to  explore  his  camp,  hav- 
ing previously  shewn  them  the  whole,  with  directions 
to  inform  Hannibal  of  what  they  had  seen.  The  Cartha- 
ginian general,  conscious  of  his  inferiority,  endeavoured 
to  discontinue  the  war  by  negociation,  and  desired  a 
meeting  with  Scipio  to  confer  upon  terms  of  peace,  to 
which  the  Roman  general  assented.  But,  after  a  long 
conference,  both  sides  parting  dissatisfied,  they  returned 
to  their  camps  to  prepare  for  deciding  the  controversy 
by  the  sword.  Never  was  a  more  memorable  battle 
fought,  whether  we  regard  the  generals,  the  armies,  the 
two  states  that  contended,  or  the  empire  that  was  in  dis- 
The  disposition  Hannibal  made  of  his  men,  i« 


93  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

said,  by  the  skilful  in  the  art  of  war,  to  be  superior  to 
any  of  his  former  arrangements.     The  battle  begun  v 
the  elephants  on  the  side  of  the  Car'  ich, 

being  terrified  at  the  cries  of  the  Ron: 
by  the  slingers  and  archers,  turned  upon  their  drivers, 
and  caused  much  confusion  in  both  wings  of  their  ai 
in  which  the  cavalry  was  placed.     Being  thus  deprived 
of  the  assistance  of  the  horse,  in  which  their  greatest 
strength  consisted,  the  >:ifantry  joined  on  both 

sides  ;  but  the  Romans  being  stronger   of  body,  the 
Carthaginians   were  obliges  e  ground      In  the 

mean  time,  Massinissa,  who  had  been    i 
their  cavalry,  reluming  and  attacking  them  in  the  rear, 
completed  their  defeat.  1  rout  ei  t-nty 

thousand  men  were  killed  in  the  buttle  or  the  pui 
and  as  many  were  taken    prisoner;.     11  who 

had  done  all  that  a  grea  sol- 

dier could  perform,  Ik  i  body  of  horse  to 

Adrumctum,  fortune  seeming  to  delight  in  confound- 
ing his  ability,  his  valour,  ami  experience. 

This  victory  brought  on  a  peace.     The  Can: 
ians,  by  Hannibal's  advice,  offered  conditions  to    tho 
Romans,  which  they  dictated  m  i  r,ve- 

reigns.     By  this  treaty,  the  ' 
to  quit  Spain  -.lie  islands  in  the  M 

sea.     They  were  bound  to  pav  ten  ll 
fifty  years  ;  to  give  hostages  for  the  delivery  of  •. 

10  restore  A  the 

territories  that  had  been  taken  from  him  ;  and  not  to 
make  war  in  Africa  but  by  the  permission  of  the  Ro- 
mans.    Thus  ended  the  second  Pun 
years  after  it  had  begun. 

CHAP.  X\ 

From  the  etid  of  the  second  Punic  /Jar,  to  the  cndc: 
third,  which  terminated  in  the  destruction  ofCartkage. 

WHILE  the  Romans  were  engaged  with  Ha 
they  carried  on  also  a  vigorous  war  against  Philips 
iiag  of  Macedonia,  not  a  little  incited  thereto  by  the 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          93 

prayers  of  the  Athenians,  who,  from  once  controlling 
the  power  of  Persia,  were  now  unable  to  defend  them- 
selves. The  Rhodians,  with  Attalus,  king  of  Perga- 
mus,  also  entered  into  the  confederary  against  Philip. 
He  was  more  than  once  defeated  by  Golba  the  consul, 
who  was  sent  against  him.  He  attempted  to  besiege 
Athens,  but  the  Romans  obliged  him  to  raise  the  siege. 
He  attempted  to  take  possession  of  the  straights  of 
Thermopylae,  but  was  driven  from  th'em  by  Quintua 
Flaminius,  with  great  slaughter.  He  attempted  to  take 
refuge  in  Ther  ,aly,  where  he  was  again  defeated  with 
considerable  loss,  and  obliged  to  beg  a  peace,  upon  con- 
dition of  paying  a  thousand  talents,  half  down,  and  the 
other  half  in  the  space  of  ten  years.  The  peace  with 
Philp  gave  the  Romans  an  opportunity  of  shewing 
their  generosity,  by  restoring  liberty  to  Greece. 

Antiochus,  king  of  Syria,  was  next  brought  to  sub- 
mit to  the  Roman  arms  ;  after  some  embassies  on  the 
one  side  and  the  other,  a  war  was  declared  against  him 
five  years  after  the  conclusion  of  the  Macedonian  war. 

After  various  mistakes  and  misconduct,  he  attempted 
to  obtain  a  peace,  by  offering  to  quit  all  his  places  in 
Europe,  and  such  in  Asia  as  professed  alliance  to  Rome. 
But  it  was  now  too  late  ;  Scipio,  perceiving  his  own  su- 
periority, was  resolved  to  avail  himself  of  it.  Antic- 
chus,  thus  driven  into  resistance,  for  some  time  retreat- 
ed before  the  enemy,  till,  being  pressed  hard  near  the 
city  of  Magnesia,  he  was  forced  to  draw  out  his  men, 
to  the  number  of  seventy  thousand  foot,  and  twelve 
thousand  horse.  Scipio  opposed  him  with  forces  as 
much  inferior  in  number  as  they  were  superior  in  cou- 
rage and  discipline.  Antiochus,  therefore,  was  in  a  short 
time  entirely  defeated  ;  his  own  chariots,  armed  with 
iies,  being  driven  back  upon  his  men,  contributed 
much  to  his  overthrow.  Being  thus  reduced  to  the  last 
extremity,  he  was  glad  to  procure  peace  of  the  Romans 
upon  their  own  terms  :  which  were,  to  pay  fifteen  thou- 
sand talents  towards  the  expences  of  the  war,  to  quit 
all  his  possessions  in  Europe,  and  likewise  all  in  Asia 
on  that  side  Mount  Taurus,  to  give  twenty  hostages  as 
pledges  of  his  fidelity,  and  to  deliver  up  Hannibal,  the 
inveterate  enemy  of  Rome. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

In  the  mean  time,  Hannibal,  whose  destructi 
one  of  the  articles  of  this  ex 
to  avoid  the  threatened  ruin.      1  his  consumn 
crul  hud  been  long  a  wanderer,  an, 
ungrateful  country.     He  had  taken  i\  ourt 

of  Antiochus,  who  at  first  gave  him  ^  me, 

and  made  hi:,:  of  his  fleet,  in  which  stuiio. 

shewed  his  usual  skill  i  Hut  he  soon  i 

in  the  Syrian's    esteem,  to;  >ed    schc 

which  that  monarch  h~ 
nor  talents  toexe' 

ty  or  protection,  he    departed  by  Bt< 
wamlcrii  ae  among  pet- 

er p<. 

e  court  oi  lie  mean 

time  the  it,  utterly  un- 

worthy of  them,  sent  A  <nc  of  their  most  cele- 

brated generals,  u  tear- 

ing the  resentment  of  i  iatc 

their  friendship  by  this  breach  of  ho^  rdered  a 

guard  to  be  pi  -.nibal,  v:  -nt  to  de- 

liver him  up.     The  poor  old  general,  thus  in 
persecuted  from  one  country  to  another,  and  finding  all 
methods  of  safety  cut  off,  determined  to  die  ;  he  there- 
desired  one  of  his  followers  to  bring  him  poi 
which  he  had  ready  for  this  exigence  ;  and  drinking  it, 
he  expired,  as  he  had  lived,  with  intrepid  bravery. 
^-  ond  Macedonian  soon    after 

proclaimed.  -  rseus,  the  son  of  Philip, 

bliged  to  beg 
peace  of  the  Roma  to  secure  the 

ntrived  to  murder  his  brother  Demet: 
:md,  upon  the  death  of  his  father, 

of  imaginary  triumphs,  made  war  against  Du- 

ring the  course  of  this  war,  which  continued  about  three 

s,  many  opportunities  were  offered  him  of  cu. 
off  the  Roman  army  ;  but  being  perfectly  ignorant 
to  take  advantage  of  their  rashness,  he  spent  the  time  in 
empty  overtures  for  a  peace.     At  leii 
him  a  decisive  overthrow  near  the  river  1 
attempted  to  procure  safety  by  flying  into  Crete  ;  but 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          95 

.g  abandoned  by  all,  he  was  obliged  to  surrender 
himself,  and  to  grace  th'e  splendid  triumph  of  the  Ro- 
man general. 

About  this  time  Massinissa,  the  Numidian,  having 
made  some  incursions  into  a  territory  claimed  by  the 
Carthaginians,  they  attempted  to  repel  the  invasion. 
This  brought  on  a  war  between  that  monarch  and  them  ; 
while  the  Romans,  who  pretended  to  consider  this  con- 
duct of  theirs  as  an  infraction  of  the  treaty,  sent  to  make 
a  complaint.  The  ambassadors  who  were  employed 
upon  this  occasion,  finding  the  city  very  rich  and  flour- 
ishing, from  the  long  interval  of  peace  which  it  had  now 
enjoyed  for  near  fifty  years,  either  from  motives  of  av- 
arice to  possess  its  plunder,  or  from  fear  of  its  grow- 
greatness,  insisted  much  on  the  necessity  of  a  war, 
h  was  soon  after  proclaimed  ;  and  the  consul  set 
out  with  a  thorough  resolution  utterly  to  demolish 
Carthage. 

The  wretched  Carthaginians,  finding  that  the  con- 
querors would  not  desist  from  making  demands  while 
they  had  any  thing  left  to  supply,  attempted  to  soften 
the  victors  by  submission  ;  but  they  received  orders  to 
leave  their  city,  which  was  to  be  levelled  with  the 
ground.  This  severe  command  they  received  with  all 
the  concern  and  distress  of  despairing  people  :  they  im- 
plored for  a  respite  from  sucb  a  hard  sentence  :  they 
v.sed  tears  and  lamentations  ;  but  finding  the  consuls 
orable,  they  departed  with  a  gloomy  resolution, 
prepared  to  suffer  the  utmost  extremitit*.,  and  to  fight 
to  the  last  for  their  seat  of  empire. 

Those  vessels,  therefore,  of  gold  and  silver,  which 
their  luxury  had  taken  such  pride  in,  were  converted 
into  arms.  The  women  parted  also  with  their  orna- 
ments, and  even  cut  off  their  hair  to  be  converted  into 
ir  the  bowmen.  Asdrubal,  who  had  been  lately 
!emned  for  opposing  the  Romans,  was  now  taken 
from  prison  to  head  their  army  ;  and  such  preparations 
were  made,  that,  when  the  consuls  came  before  the  city, 
which  they  expected  to  find  an  easy  conquest,  they  met 
with  such  resistance  as  quite  dispirited  their  forces,  and 
!•;  their  resolution,  Several  engagements  were 


GC  THE  HISTORY  OI 

fought  before  the  walls,  with  disadvantage  to  the  assail- 
ants ;  so  that  the  siege  would  have  been  discontinued, 
had  not  Scipio  jfcmilianus,  the  adopted  son  of  Africanus, 
who  was  now  appointed  to  command  it,  used  as  much 
skill  to  save  his  forces  after  a  defeat,  as  to  inspire  them 
with  fresh  hopes  of  victory.     But  all  his  arts  would  have 
failed,  had  he  not  found  means  to  seduce  Pharneas,  the 
master  of  the  Carthaginian  horse,  who  came  over  to  his 
side.     The  unhappy  townsmen  soo; 
make  nearer  approaches  ;  the  wall  which  led  to  the  ha- 
ven was  quickly  demolished,  soon  after  the  Forui 
self  was  taken,  which  offered  the  conquerors  a  dcj) 
Me  spectacle  of  houses  nodding  to  the  fall,  heaps  of  men 
lying  dead,  hundreds  of   the  wounded   struggling  to 
emerge  from  the  carnage  around  them,  and  deplo 
their  own  and  their  country's  ruin.     The  citadel  soon 
after  surrendered  at  discretion.     All  now  but  the  \ 
pie  was  subdued,  and  that  was  defended  by  desc: 
from  the  Roman  army,  and  those  who  had  been  most 
forward  to  undertake  the  w:r  ;  ect- 

ing  no  mercy,  and  finding  their  condition  ,  set 

fire   to   the  building,  and  voluntarily  perislu 
lames.     This  was  the  end  of  one  of  the  most  renowned 
cities  in  the  world,  both  for  arts,  opulence,  and  CN 
of  dominion  ;  it  had  rivalled   Rome  for  above 
dred  years,  and  at  one  time  was  thought  to  have  the 
superiority. 

This  conquest  over  Carthage  was  soon  followed  by- 
many  over  ofher  states.  Corinth,  one  of  the  noblest 
cities  of  Greece,  in  the  same  yi  ame 

late,  being  entered  by  Mnmmius,  the  coir 
led  to  the  ground.     Scipio  c  to 

Numanlia,  the  strongc 

habitants,  to  avoid  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enc 
fired  the  city  over  their  own  heads,  and  all,  to  a  n 
expired  in  the  flames.     Thus  Spain  became  a  province 
belonging  to  Rome,  and  was  governed  thence  ibrv 
by  two  annual  prxtors. 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          97 
CHAP.  XVII. 

'"c  destruction  of  Carthage,  to  the  end  of  the 
sedition  of  the  Gracchi. 

[U.  C.  621.] 

THE  Romans  now  being  left  without  a  rival,  the  tri- 
umphs and  the  spoils  of  Asia  brought  in  a  taste  for 

nclicl  expence  ;  and  these  produced  avarice  and  in- 
verted ambition.     The  two  Gracchi  were  the  first  who 

this  strange  corruption  among  the  great,  and  resolv- 

>  repress  it,  by  renewing  the  Licinian  law,  which 
hud  enacted  that  no  person  in  the  state  should  possess 

re  five  hundred  acres  of  land.  Tiberius  Gracchus, the 
elder  of  the  two,  was  a  person  very  considerable  both  for 
'he  advantages  of  his  body,  and  the  qualities  of  his  mine1. 
Very  different  from  Scipio,  of  whom  he  was  the  grand- 
son, he  seemed  more  ambitious  of  power  than  desirous 
of  glory  :  his  compassion  for  the  oppressed  was  equal  to 
his  animosity  against  the  oppressors  ;  but  unhappily  his 
passions,  rather  than  his  reason,  operated  even  in  pur- 
suits of  virtue;  and  these  always  drove  him  beyond  the 
line  of  duly.  This  was  the  disposition  of  the  elder 
10  found  the  lower  part  of  the  people  ready 
to  second  all  his  proposals.  This  law,  though  at  first 
carried  on  with  proper  moderation,  greatly  disgusted  the 
rich,  who  endeavoured  to  persuade  the  people  that  the 
proposer  only  aimed  at  disturbing  the  government,  and 
putting  all  things  into  confusion.  But  Gracchus,  who 
was  a  man  of  the  greatest  eloquence  of  his  time,  easily 
wiped  off  these  impressions  from  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple, already  irritated  with  their  wrongs,  and  at  length 
the  law  was  passed. 

The  death  of  Attalus,  king  of  Pergamus,  furnished 
Tiberius  Gracchus  with  a  new  opportunity  of  gratify- 
ing the  meaner  part  of  the  people  at  the  expence  of  the 
great.  This  king  had,  by  his  last  will,  left  the  Romans 
his  heirs  ;  and  it  was  now  proposed  that  the  money  so 
left  should  be  divided  among  the  poor,  in  order  to  fur- 
nish them  with  proper  utensils  for  cultivating  the  lands 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

which  became  theirs  by  the  late  law  of  partition 
•  uused  still  greater  disturbances  than  before  ;the  senate 
assembling  upon  this  occasion  in  order  to   consult   the 
most  proper  methods  of  securing  these  riches  to  them- 

< -s,  which  they  now  >ove  the  safety  of  the 

commonwealth  ;  They  had  numerous  dependents,  who 
were  willing;  to  give  up  liberty  for  plenty  and  ease  ; 

B,  therefore)  were  commanded  to  be  in  rcadinc*- 
intimidate  the  people,  who  expected  no  si. 
and  \vho  were  now  attending  to  the   ) 
hus  in  the  capitol.     Here. 

!  by  the  ,  one  side,  and  by 

on  the  other,  Tiberius  found  his 
!y  interrupted]  and  begged  :o  be 

attended  to;  till,  at  last,  raising  his   hand  to  his  ! 

Le  that  his  life  wa-  in  danger,  the  partizans  of 
ihe  E  c  out  lhat  he  wan1  em.     In  con- 

sequence of  this,  an  universal  uproar  spread  itself 
through  all  ranks  of  people  ;  the  corrupt  part  of  the  sen- 

.  ere  of  opinion  that    the  consul  should   defend  the 
ommonwealth  by  force  of  arms;  but  this 
^istrate  declining  such  violence,^ 
to  Gracchus,  immediately  rose  up, "and  p: 

:->r  the  contest,  desired  lhat  all  v 

the  dignity  and  the  authority  of  the  laws   should  follow 
ion  this,  attended  by  a  large   body  of  senators 

lients,  armed  with  clubs,  he   went  directly  to 
•.apitol,  striki:.  .    ntured  t 

is.  perceiving  by  the  tumult  that  1  .ss  sought 

Tor  endeavoured  to  fly  ;  and,  throwing  aside  his  robe 
to  expedite  his  escape,  attempted  to  get  through  the 
ihron*  ,  but  happening  to  fall  over  a  pcr-r  y  on 

the  ground,  Saturnius,  one  of  his  coll- 
buneship,  who  wr\s  of  the  opposi  him 

dead  with  a  piece  of  a  seat  ;  and  not   U  hrce 

hundred  of  his  hearers  shared  the  same  fate,  being  killed 
in  the  tumult.  Nor  did  the  vengeance  of  the  senate 
here,  but  extended  to  numbers  of  those  who  seemed  to 
espouse  his  cause  ;  many  of  them  were  put  to  death,  ma- 
ny were  banished,  and  nothing  was  omitted  to  ins, 
the  people  with  an  abhorrence  of  his  pretended  cri: 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          99 

Caius  Gracchus,  the  brother  of  him  who  was  slain, 
was  but  twenty-one  upon  the  death  of  Tiberius,  and  as 
he  was  too  young  to  be  much  dreaded  by  the  great,  so 
he  was  at  the  first  unwilling  toincur  their  resentment  by 
aims  beyond  his  reach  ;  he  therefore  lived  in  retirement, 
unseen  and  almost  forgotten.  But,  while  he  thus  seem- 
ed desirous  of  avoiding  popularity,  he  was  employing 
his  solitude  in  the  study  of  eloquence,  which  was  the 
readiest  means  to  obtain  it :  at  length,  when  he  thought 
himself  qualified  to  serve  hiscountry,  he  offered  himself 
candidate  for  the  qurcstorship  to  the  army  in  Sardinia, 
which  he  readily  obtained.  His  valour,  affability,  and 
temperance  in  his  office  were  remarked  by  all.  The 
king  of  Numidia,  sending  a  present  of  corn  to  the  "Ro- 
mans, ordered  his  ambassadors  to  say  that  it  was  entire- 
ty as  a  tribute  to  the  virtues  of  Caius  Gracchus.  This 
the  senate  treated  with  scorn,  and  ordered  the  ambassa- 
dors to  be  dismissed  with  contempt,  as  ignorant  barba- 
rians ;  which  so  inflamed  the  resentment  of  young  Grac- 
chus, that  he  immediately  came  from  the  army  to  com- 
plain of  the  indignity  thrown  upon  his  reputation,  and 
to  offer  himself  for  the  tribuneship  of  the  people.  It 
was  then  that  the  great  found  in  this  youth,  who  had 
been  hitherto  neglected  upon  account  of  his  age,  a  more 
formidable  antagonist  than  even  his  brother  had  been. 
Notwithstanding  the  warmest  opposition  from  the  senate, 
he  was  now  declared  tribune  by  a  large  majority,  and  he 
now  prepared  to  run  the  same  career  which  his  brother 
had  gone  before  him. 

His  first  effort  was  to  have  Popilius,  one  of  the  most 
inveterate  of  his  brother's  enemies,  cited  before  the  peo- 
ple, who,  rather  than  stand  the  event  of  a  trial,  chose 
to  go  into  voluntary  banishment.  He  next  procured  an 
edict,  granting  the  freedom  of  the  city  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Latium,  and  soon  after  to  all  the  people  on  ihat 
side  the  Alps.  He  afterwards  fixed  the  price  of  corn 
to  a  moderate  standard,  and  procured  a  monthly  distri- 
bution of  it  among  the  people.  He  then  proceeded  to 
an  inspection  into  the  late  corruptions  of  the  senate  ;  in 
which  the  whole  body  being  convicted  of  bribery,  extor- 
*ion,  and  the  sale  of  offices,  for  at  that  time  a  total  dc- 


100  THE  HISTORY  OF  Tl. 

generacy  seemed  to  have  taken  place  ..s  made, 

transferring  the  power  of  judging  corrupt  magUti. 

•e  to  tl>€  knights,  v  de  a  greai 

leradon  in  the  constitution. 

.tcchus,  by  these  means,  being  grown  not  only  very 
popul  vr  but  very  powerful  r  :<s  become  an 

object  at  winch  the  se: 
But  he  soon  found  the  \ 
support;  the} 

from  him  .pon  Drui  iduously 

set  up  against  him  by  the  senate.  1. 
he  revived  the  Lkiman  law  in  their  : 
up  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  <  -.owns  of 

Italy  to  his  support ;  the  senate  ordered  them  all  to  de- 
part Rome,  and  even  sent  c: 
Gracchus  had  invited  to  In 
with  udship.     To  - 

shortly  after  addeci 
for  »U  r  the  tril. 

jected,  it  being  supposed  that  the  officers,  who. 
was  to  make  the  return,  were  bribed  to  reject  him,  though 
fairly  chosen. 

It  was  now  seen  t;-at  the  fate  of  Gracchus  was  resolv- 
ed on.  Opimius,  the  consul,  was  not  contented  with 
the  protection  of  all  the  senate  and  tl  ha 

numerous  retinue  of  si 

body  of  Candians,  thai  were  me:  man 

service,  to  follow  and  attend  him.     Thus 
conscious  of  the    superior]  Ited 

Gracchus  win 

to  produce  a  quarrel,  in  which   he  u  pre- 

tence ofdi  enemy  i  hus 

avoided  all  lecrin,  f  apprize, 

ukl  nut  even  wear  any  kind  of  ai 
.is  defence.     His  friend  l-'laccus.  however,  a  zealous 
tribune,  \VL;S  not  sr  rd  to  oppr 

and  for  this  purpose   brought  u; 
ntrymento  Rome,  whoc  ,r  pretence  ofde- 

-iKiit.     Wlicn  the  day  for de: 

I,    the  t\v 
attended  >itoK  wh«: 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         lot 

sul  was  sacrificing,  according  to  custom,  one  of  the  lie- 
tors,  taking  up  the  entrails  of  the  beast  that  was  slain  in 
order  to  remove  them,  could  not  forbear  crying  out  to 
Fulvius  and  his  party,  "  You,  ye  factious  citizens,  make 
way  for  honest  men."  This  insult  so  provoked  the  party 
to  whom  it  was  addressed,  that  they  instantly  fell  upon 
him,  and  pierced  him  to  death  with  the  instruments 
they  used  in  writing,  which  they  then  happened  to  have 
in  their  hands.  This  murder  caused  a  great  disturbance 
in  the  assembly  ,  but  particularly  Gracchus,  who  saw 
the  consequences  that  were  likely  to  ensue,  repremanded 
his  party  for  giving  his  enemies  such  advantage  over 
him,  but  now  prepared  to  lead  his  followers  to  mount 
Aventine.  It  was  there  he  learned  that  proclamation 
had  been  made  by  the  consuls,  that  whoever  should 
bring  either  his  head  or  that  of  Flaccus,  should  receive 
its  weight  in  gold  as  a  reward.  It  was  to  no  purpose 
that  he  sent  the  youngest  son  of  Flaccus,  who  was  yet  a 
child,  with  proposals  for  an  accommodation.  The  sen- 
ate and  the  consuls,  who  were  sensible  of  their  superior- 
ity, rejected  all  his  offers,  and  resolved  to  punish  his  of- 
fence with  nothing  less  than  death  ;  and  they  offered 
pardon  also  to  all  who  should  leave  him  immediately. 
This  produced  the  desired  effect ;  the  people  fell  from 
him  by  degrees,  and  left  him  with  very  inferior  forces. 
In  the  mean  time  Opimius,  the  consul,  who  thirsted  for 
slaughter,  leading  his  forces  up  to  mount  Aventine,  fell 
in  among  the  crowd  with  ungovernable  fury  :  a  terrible 
slaughter  of  the  scarce  resisting  multitude  ensued,  and 
not  less  than  three  thousand  citizens  were  slain  upon 
the  spot.  Flaccus  attempted  to  find  shelter  in  a  ruin- 
ous cottage,  but  being  discovered,  was  slain  with  his 
eldest  son.  Gracchus  at  first  retired  to  the  temple  of 
Diana,  where  he  was  resolved  to  die  by  his  own  hand  ; 
but  was  prevented  by  two  of  his  faithful  friends  and  fol- 
lowers, Pomponius  and  Lucinius,  who  forced  him  to 
seek  safety  by  flight.  From  thence  he  made  the  best  of 
his  way  to  cross  a  bridge  that  led  from  the  city,  still  at- 
tended by  his  two  generous  friends,  and  a  Grecian  slave 
whose  name  was  Philocrates.  But  his  pursuers  still 
pressed  upon  him  from  behind,  and  when  come  to  tbe 
I  2 


TIII:  HISTORY  OF  THE. 

foot  of  the  bridge,  he  was  obliged  to  turn  and  face  tfie 
enemy.  His  two  friends  were  soon  slain,  defending  him 
nst  the  crowd ;  and  he  was  forced  to  take  refuge 
with  his  slave  in  a  grove  beyond  the  Tyber,  vinicli 
long  been  dedicated  to  the  furies.     Here,  finding  him- 
lurronnded  on  everj  left  of  escap- 

ing, he  prevailed  i:  to  kill  hi;i 

diately  after  killed  .  .pon  the  body 

of  his  bclovci!  soon  coming  up, 

cut  off  the  head  of  Gracchi^ 

•  i>hy  upon  a  spear.     Soon  after,    one    Septimi.. 
ving  it  home,  there,  first  having  seen  out 

the  brain,  he  filled  it  \\ith  lead  in  order  to  make  it  \\  • 

.iinl   thus    received  of  the   consul  seventeen 

:;old  as  his  recompence. 

Thus  dice  itus  about  ten  years  after  his 

-her  Tiberius, and  il  w  began  to  be  active  in 

« ommonwcalth.      I:  isto- 

cdition  ;  bull  ".eeofhis 

.-haractcr,    the    disturbance   of  public   tranquility    wat 
to  his  opposers  than  to  him,  so  that  instead 
..lling  the  tumults  at  that  time  the    sediti* 
(iracchi,  we  should  rather  call  them  the  sedition  of  the 
;\tinst  tlu-  '  since  the  efforts  of  the  lat- 

terwcre  made  in  vindication  of  a  law  to  which  the  sen- 
ate had   assented,   and  as  the  designs  of  the  former 
were  supported  by  i\n  cxuanneous  armed   power  from 
country  that  had  never  before  meddled  in  the  busi- 
ness of  the  h  .  and  whose  introduction  gn\ 
most  irrevocable  blow  to  the  constitution    \Vhcther  the 
!  by  motives  of  ambition   or  of 

patriotism  in  the  promulgation  of  these  laws,  it  is  im- 
possible to  determine  ;  but  certain  it   is,  from  what  ap- 
pears, that  all  justice  wasou  their  side,  and  all  injury  on 
that  of  the  senate.     In   fact,  this  body  was  now  quite 
nged  from  that  venerable  assembly,  which  we  hare 
B  overthrowing  Pyrrhus  and  Hannibal,  as  much  by 
iheir  virtues  as  by  their  arms.     They  were  now  only  to 
be  distinguished  from  the  rest  of  the  people  by  t 
superior  luxuries,  and  ruled  the  commonwealth  by  the 
.;*u  of  that  authority  which   is  gahied  from 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          103 

and  a  number  of  mercenary  dependencies.  All  the  ve- 
nal and  the  base  were  attached  to  them  from  motives  of 
self-interest ;  and  they  who  still  ventured  to  be  indepen- 
dent, were  borne  down,  and  entirely  lost  in  the  infamous 
majority.  In  short,  the  empire  at  this  period  came  un- 
der the  government  of  an  hateful  aristocracy  ;  the  tri- 
bunes, who  were  fopmerly  accounted  protectors  of  the 
people,  becoming  rich  themselves,  and  having  no  longer 
opposite  interests  from  those  of  the  senate,  concurred  in 
their  oppressions ;  since,  as  has  been  said,  it  was  not 
now  the  struggle  between  patricians  and  plebeians,  who 
only  nominally  differed,  but  between  the  rich  and  the 
poor.  The  lower  orders  of  the  state  being  by  these 
means  reduced  to  a  degree  of  hopeless  subjugation,  in- 
stead of  looking  after  liberty,  only  sought  for  a  leader  ; 
while  the  rich,  with  all  the  suspicion  of  tyrants,  terrified 
at  the  slightest  appearance  of  opposition,  entrusted  men 
with  uncontrollable  power,  from  whom  they  had  not 
strength  to  withdraw  it  when  the  danger  was  over. 
Thus  both  parts  of  the  state  concurred  in  giving  up  their 
freedom  ;  the  fears  of  the  senate  first  made  the  dictator, 
and  the  hatred  of  the  people  kept  him  in  his  office. 
Nothing  can  be  more  dreadful  to  a  thinking  mind  than 
the  government  of  Rome  from  this  period  till  it  found 
refuge  undei  the  protection  of  Augustus. 

CHAP.  XVIII. 

From  the  sedition  of  Gracchus  to  the  perpetual  dicta- 
torship of  Sylla,  which  was  the  first  step  towards 
the  ruin  of  the  commonwealth  of  Rome. 

WHILE  the  Romans  were  in  this  state  of  deplora- 
ble corruption  at  home,  they  nevertheless  were 
very  successful  in  their  .transactions  with   regard  to  fo- 
reign powers. 

Jugurtha  was  grandson  to  the  famous  Massinissa,  who 
sided  against  Hannibal  with  Rome.  He  was  educated 
with  the  two  young  princes,  who  were  left  to  inherit  the 
kingdom,  and  being  superior  in  abilities  to  both,  and 
greatly  in  favour  with  the  people;  he  murdered  Hiemp» 


i04  THE  HISTORY  OF  TI 

sal  the  eldest  son,  and  attempted  the  same  by  Adher- 
the  younger,  who  made  his  escape,  and  fled  to  the 
;;:cour.     Whereupon  Jugurtha,  being  sen- 
sible how  much  avarice  and  injustice  had  crept  into  the 
•9,  sent   his  amb.i  e    presents   to 

Rome,  whoso  succesbh  de- 

creed him  half  the  kingdom,  which  he  had  thus 
by  murder  and  u1-  >ent  ten  <  ners 

to  divide  it  between  him    and  Adlu  The    com- 

missioners, of  whom   < 

chus,  was  one,  willing  to  follow  the  example  which  the 
senate  had  set  then  i1>ed  to  bestow  the  most 

rich  and  populous  part  of  the  kingdom  upon  the  usurp- 
er, who  t  olved  lo  •••If  of  the 
whole.  But  willing  to 

he  only  made  in  th  ::ig  incurs  col- 

leagues territories,  in  order  to  provoke  re; 
he  knew  how  to  convert  into 

ite.     Thi>  d  to 

throw  off  the  i 
his  capital,  he  at  lengt! 

murdered  him.     The  people  of  Rome,  who  had 
some  generosity  remaining,  unanimously  complained  of 
this  treachery,  and  procured  a  decree,  i:  -tha 

should  be  summoned  in  person  before  the, 
accovmt  of  all  such  as  had  accepted  bribe  rtha 

made  no  great  difficulty  in  throwing  bin.  the 

clemency  of  Rome  ;  but  giving  the  people  no 
tion,  he  had  orders  to  depart  the  city  ;  and,  in  the  n 
time,  Albanus,  the  com  nt  uith  an  army  tc 

low  him,  who  giving  up  the  direction  of  the  army  to 
Aulus,  his  brother,  a  person  eve  unqualified  for 

the  command,  the  Rom  compelled  to  haz.ird  a 

battle  upon  disadvantageous  terms  ;  and  the  whole  ar 
to  avoid  being  cut  to  pieces,  was  obliged  to  pass  under 
the  yoke. 

In  this  condition,  Metellus,  the  succeeding  c 
found  affairs  upon  his  arrival  in  Nurnidia  ;  officers  v 
out  confidence,  an  army  without  discipline,  and  an  ene- 
my ever  watchful  and  intriguing.     However,   by  his 
great  attention  to  business,  and  by  an  integrity  tfcat 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         105 

shuddered  at  corruption,  he  soon  began  to  retrieve  the 
affairs  of  Rome,  and  the  credit  of  the  army.  In  the 
space  of  two  years  Jugurtha  was  overthrown  in  several 
battles,  forced  out  of  his  own  dominions,  and  constrain- 
ed to  beg  a  peace.  Thus  all  things  promised  Metellus 
an  easy  and  certain  victory,  but  he  was  frustrated  in  his 
expectations  by  the  intrigues  of  Caius  Murius,  his  lieu- 
tenant, who  came  in  to  reap  that  harvest  of  glory  which 
the  other's  industry  had  sown.  Caius  Marius  was  born 
in  a  village  near  Arpinium,  of  poor  parents,  who  gain- 
ed their  living  by  their  labour.  As  he  had  been  bred 
up  in  a  participation  of  their  toils,  his  manners  were  as 
rude  as  his  countenance  was  frightful.  He  was  a  man 
of  extraordinary  stature,  incomparable,  strength,  and 
undaunted  bravery-  When  Metellus,  as  had  been  said, 
was  obliged  to  solicit  at  Rome  for  a  continuance  of  his 
command,  Marius,  whose  ambition  knew  no  bounds, 
was  resolved  to  obtain  it  for  himself,  and  thus  gain  all 
the  glory  of  putting  an  end  to  the  war.  To  that  end 
he  privately  inveighed  against  Metellus  by  his  emissa* 
ries  at  Rome  ;  and  having  excited  a  spiiit  of  discontent 
against  him,  he  had  leave  granted  him  to  go  to  Rome  to 
stand  for  the  consulship  himself,  which  he  obtained  con- 
trary to  the  expectation  and  interest  of  the  nobles. 

Marius  being  thus  invested  with  the  supreme  power 
of  managing  the  war,  shewed  him  self  every  way  n't  for 
the  commission.  His  vigilance  was  equal  to  his  valour, 
and  he  quickly  made  himself  master  ot  the  cities  which 
Jugurtha  had  yet  remaining  in  Niunidia.  This  unfor- 
tunate prince  finding  himself  unable  to  make  opposition 
singly,  was  obliged  to  have  recourse  for  assistance  to 
Bacchus  king  of  Mauritania,  to  whose  daughter  he  was 
married.  A  battle  soon  after  ensued,  in  which  the  Nu- 
midians  surprised  the  Roman  camp  by  night,  and  gain- 
ed a  temporary  advantage.  However,  it  was  but  of 
short  continuance;  for  Marius  soon  after  overthrew  them 
in  two  signal  engagements,  in  one  of  which,  not  less  than 
ninety  thousand  of  the  African  army  were  slain.  Boc- 
chus  now  finding  the  Romans  too  powerful  to  be  resist- 
ed, did  not  think  it  expedient  to  hazard  his  own  crown 
to  protect  that  of  his  ally  ;  he  therefore  determined  to 


106  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

make  peace  upon  whatever  conditions  he  might  obtain 
.nd  accordingly  sent  to  Rome  imploring  protection 
The  senate  received  the  ambassadors  with  their  usual 
haughtiness ;  and,  without  complying  with  their  request, 
granted  the  suppliant,  not  their  friendship  but  their  par- 
don. Nf  Jing,  after  some  time  he  was  given  to 
understand,  that  the  delivering  up  of  J  .  -the  Ro- 
mans would  in  sonic  measure  concilia  vourand 
soften  their  resentment.  At  first  the  pride  of  Bocchus 
-gled  against  such  a  proposal,  but  a  few  interviews 
with  Sylta,  w.;:  ,  stor  to  Marius,  reconciled  him 
to  this  treacherous  measure.  At  len 

jeing  drawn  into  u 

c-  sp«cious  pretences  of  his  ally,  who  deluded  ! 
by  d-  :  cncc  ;  and  being  made  ,  he 

.rius  to  Rome,  loa< 

deplorable  instance  of  blasted  am  not  long 

survive  his  overthrow,  heir.  >jr  the  senate 

to  be  starved  to  death  in  prison  a  short  lime  after  he  had 
adorned  the  triumph  of  the  conqueror. 

Marius,  by  this  and  two  succeeding  victories  over  the 
Gauls,  having  become  very  formidable  to  distant  nations 
ir,  became  soon  after  much  more  dangerous  to  his 
fellow  citizens  in  peace. 

The  strength  which  he  had  given  the  popular  party, 
every  day  grew  more  conspicuous  ;  and  the  Italians  be- 
ing frustrated  in  their  aims  of. gaining  the  freedom  of 
Rome  by  the  :  utc,  they  resolved  up- 

on obtaining  by  f  refused  them  as  a  fa- 

vour vise  to  the  i  which  most 

of  the  states  of  Italy  entered  into  a  confederacy  against 
Rome,  in  order  to  obtain  a  redress  of  this  and  all  the 
rest  of  their  grievances. 

At  e  of  two  years  this  war   having  continued 

ith  doubtful  success,   the  senate  began  to  re- 
that,  whether  conquered  or  conquerors,  the  power 
of  the  Romans  was   in  danger  of  being  totally  destroy- 
ed.   In  order  therefore  to  soften  their  compliance  by  de- 
grees, they  be  iving  the  freedom  of  ti 
such  of  the    Italian  states,  as  had  not  revolted 
then  offered  i  -ould  soonest  lay  down  t 


COMMON  WLALTH  OF   ROME.         lor 

arms.  This  unexpected  bounty  had  the  desired  effect ; 
the  allies,  with  mutual  distrust,  offered  each  a  separate 
treaty :  the  senate  took  them  one  by  one  into  favour, 
but  gave  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  such  a  manner 
that,  being  empowered  to  vote  not  until  all  the  othev 
tribes  had  given  their  suffrages,  they  had  very  little 
weight  in  the  constitution.  In  this  manner  they  were 
made  free,  all  but  the  Samnitcs  and  Lucanians,  who 
seemed  excluded  from  the  general  compromise,  as  if  to 
leave  Sylla,  who  commanded  against  them,  the  glory 
of  putting  an  end  to  the  war  :  this  he  performed  with 
i^reat  conduct,  storming  their  camps,  overthrowing  them 
in  several  battles,  and  obliging  them  to  submit  to  such 
terms  as  the  senate  were  pleased  to  impose. 

This  destructive  war  being  concluded,  which,  as  Pa- 
ilus  says,  consumed  above  three  hundred  thousand 
of  the  flower  of  Italy,  the  senate  now  began  to  think  of 
turning  their  arms  against  Mithridates,  the  most  power- 
ful monarch  of  the  east. 

For  this  expedition  Marius  had  long  been  preparing ; 
but  Sylla,  who  now  began  to  make  a  figure  in  the  com 
monwealth,  had  interest  enough  to  get  Marius  set  aside, 
*.nd  himself  appointed  to  the  expedition.  Marius,  how- 
ever, tried  all  his  arts  with  the  people  to  get  this  ap- 
pointment reversed,  and  at  length  procurexl  a  law  to  be 
enacted,  that  the  command  of  the  army  appointed  to 
oppose  Mithridates,  was  to  be  transferred  from  Sylla  to 
;us. 

In  consequence  of  this,  Marius  immediately  sent  down 
officers  from  Rome  to  take  command  in  his  name.  But 
instead  of  obeying  his  orders,  they  fell  upon  and  slew  the 
officers,  and  then  entreated  Sylla  thut  he  would  lead 
them  directly  to  take  signal  vengeance  upon  all  his  ene- 
mies at  Rome. 

Accordingly  his  soldiers  entered  the  city  sword  in 
hand,  as  a  place  taken  by  storm.  Marius  and  Sulpicius* 
at  the  head  of  a  tumultuary  body  of  their  parlizans,  at- 
tempted to  oppose  their  entrance ;  and  the  cicizens  them- 
selves, who  feared  the  sackage  of  the  place,  threw  down 
stones  and  tiles  from  the  tops  of  the  houses  upon  the  in- 
truders. So  unequal  a  conflict  lasted  longer  than  could 


ilSTORY  OF  T! 

have  been  expected:  at  length  Ma: 
were  obliged  to  seek  safety  by  flight,  after  ha\ 
ly   oiTVrcd    liberty  to  all  the  slaves  who  woi. 
them  in  tl-.i  ucy. 

:iimself  master  of  the  city,  began 
by  modelling  the  1  .s  to  favour  his  outrages. — 

"\Y!M 

•it-my,   at  the  a;^  of  st 

himself  unati  rous 

pursuits  of  th« 

•;me  in  this  deplorable  cone 
:s  danger^  ucrs 

making  nearer  advano 
ed  to  conceal'  him 

:it  up  to  his  c 

lace  and  : 

in  hopes  to  fi  it  ate 

his  escape  ;  but  being  !  ..c  of 

,.  with  a  li 

svith   mu 
ernor  of  the  place  will  s  of 

him  ;  but  tin-  eon 

for  this  purpose  but  he  stopt  short,   i  the 

e.  of  the  i 

who  sternly  demanded  i 
Caius  M.irius?     The  slave  unable  to 

governor 

i  lering  the  fear  of 

happy  ex  >ve  him  once  more  >m  ; 

and,  com  o  his  fortune,  provided 

.  thrnce  v 
the  best  ty  to  the  islanvl 

i>est  on  the  c< 

:-c  a  Ron.  r, who  happened  lobe  at 

place,  resolved  IOM 

his  crew,  who  were  killed  in  tlu  n'er 

his  retreat  to  the  ship.     He  after 
near  Carthage,  and  weju  in  a  mcluucholy  mannt 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          loo 

place  himself  amongst  the  ruins  of  that  desolated  place. 
He  soon,  however,  had  orders  from  the  praetor  who 
governed  there  to  retire.  Marius,  who  remembered  his 
having  once  served  this  very  man  when  in  necessity, 
could  not  suppress  his  sorrow  at  finding1  ingratitude  in 
every  quarter  of  the  world,  and  preparing  to  obey,  de- 
sired the  messenger  to  tell  his  master  that  he  had  seen 
Marius  sitting  among  the  ruins  of  Carthage,  intimating 
the  greatness  of  his  own  fall  by  the  desolation  that  was 
round  him.  He  then  embarked  once  more,  and  not 
knowing  where  to  land  without  encountering  an  enemy, 
spent  the  winter  at  sea,  expecting  every  hour  the  return 
of  a  messenger  from  his  son,  whom  he  had  sent  to  soli- 
cit protection  from  an  African  prince,  whose  name  was 
idrastal.  After  long  expectation,  instead  of  a  mes- 
cr,  his  son  himself  arrived,  having  escaped  from  the 
inhospitable  court  of  that  monarch,  where  he  had  been 
kept,  not  as  a  friend,  but  a  prisoner,  and  had  returned 
just  time  enough  to  prevent  his  father  from  sharing  the 
same  fate.  It  was  in  this  situation  that  they  were  in- 
formed that  Cinna,  one  of  their  party,  who  had  remain- 
ed at  Rome,  had  restored  their  affairs,  and  headed  a 
large  army  of  the  Italian  states  in  their  cause. 

Nor  was  it  long  before  they  joined  their  forces,  and 
presented  themselves  at  the  gales  of  Rome.  Sylla  was 
at  that  time  absent  in  his  command  against  Mithridatcs, 
while  Cinna  marched  into  the  city  accompanied  by  his 
guards  ;  but  Marius  stopped  and  refused  to  enter,  al- 
ledging  that  having  been  banished  by  a  public  decree, 
it  was  necessary  to  have  another  to  authorize  his  return. 
It  was  thus  that  he  desired  to  give  his  meditated  cruel- 
ties the  appearance  of  justice  ;  and,  while  he  was  about 
to  destroy  thousands,  to  pretend  an  implicit  veneration 
for  the  laws.  In  pursuance  of  his  desire,  an  assembly 
of  the  people  being  called,  they  began  to  reverse  his 
banishment ;  but  they  had  scarce  gone  through  three  of 
the  tribes,  when  incapable  of  containing  his  desire  of 
revenge,  he  entered  the  cily  at  the  head  of  his  guards, 
and  massacred  all  that  had  ever  been  obnoxious  to  him, 
without  remorse  or  pity.  Several  who  sought  to  propiti- 
ate the  tyrant's  rage  were  murdered  by  his  command  in 

K 


1 10  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

his  presence  ;  many,  even  of  ihose  who  had  neve, 
fended  him,  were  put  tb  death  ;  and  at  last  even  his  own 
officers  never  approached  him  but  with  terror.     I  lav 
in  this  manner  punished  his  enemies,  he  next  abrogated 
ull  the  laws  which  were  made  by  his  rival,  and  then 
made  himself  consul  with  Cinna.     T)  his 

two  favourite  passions,  vengeance  ai; 
once  saved  his  country,  and  now  deluged  it  with  blood  ; 
at  lasuas  if  willing  to  crown  the  pile  <  ach 

he  had  made  with  his  own  body,  he  died  the  month  af- 
ter, aged  seventy,  not  without  suspicion  on  having  has- 
tened his  end. 

In  the  mean  time  these  accounts  were  brought  t 
,vho  was  sent  against  Mithridates,  and  who  was  per- 
aing  many  signal  services  against  him  ;  but  conclud- 
ing a  peace  with  that  monarch,  he  resolved  to  return 
home  to  take  revenge  of  his  enemies  at  Re: 

In  the  mean  time  nothing  could  intimi' 
making  preparations  to  repel  his  opponent 
cd  by  Carbo,  who  was  now  elected  in  the  room  of  Vale- 
rius, who  had  been  slain,  together  with  youn; 
who  inherited  all  the  abilities  and  the  ambition  of  in 
ther,  he  determined  to  send  over  part  of  the  forces  he  had 
raised  into  Dalmatia  to  oppose  Sylla  before  he  entered 
Italy.     Some  troops  were  accordingly  embarked  ;  but 
these  being  dispersed  by  a  storm,  the  rest  that  had  not 
yet  put  to  sea,  absolutely  refused  to  go.     Upon 
Cinna,  quite  forious  at  their  disobedience, rushed  forward 
to  persuade  them  to  their  duty.     In  the  n  one 

of  the  most  mutinous  of  the  soK:  ;ck  by  an 

officer,  returned  the  blow,  and  was  a; 
crime.     This  ill  timed  seventy  produced  a  tumult  u 
mutiny  through  the  whole  arru;  ia  did 

all  he  could  to  prevent  or  appease  it,  he  was  run  through 
the  body  by  one  of  the  crowd. 

Scipio,  the  consul,  who  commanded  against 
soon  after  allured  by  proposals  for  coming  to 
but  a  suspension  of  arms  being  agreed  upon.  S\ 
soldiers  went  into  the  opposite  hose 

riches,  which  they  had  acquired  in  their  expeditions,  and 
offering  to  participate  with  their  fellow-citizens  in 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          Ill 

they  changed  their  party.  Accordingly,  the  whole  ar- 
my declared  unanimously  for  Sylla  ;  and  Scipio  scarce 
knew  that  he  was  forsaken  and  deposed,  till  he  was  in- 
formed of  it  by  a  party  of  the  enemy,  who  entering  his 
tent,  made  him  and  his  son  their  prisoners. 

In  this  manner  both  factions,  exasperated  to  thq  high- 
est degree,  and  expecting  no  mercy  on  either  part,  gave 
vent  to  their  fury  in  several  engagements.  The  forces 
on  the  side  of  young  Marius,  who  now  succeeded  his  fa- 
ther in  command,  were  the  most  numerous,  but  those  of 
Sylla  better  united  and  more  under  subordination.  Car- 
bo,  who  commanded  an  army  for  Marius  in  the  field, 
sent  eight  legions  to  Prccneste,  to  relieve  his  colleague, 
but  they  were  met  by  Pompey,  afterwards  surnamed  the 
Great,  in  a  defile,  who  slew  many  of  them,  and  dispers- 
ed the  rest.  Carbo,  joined  by  Urbanus,  soon  after  en- 
gaged Metellus,  but  was  overcome  with  the  loss  often 
thousand  men  slain,  and  six  thousand  taken  prisoners. 
In  consequence  of  this  defeat,  Urbanus  killed  himself, 
and  Carbo  fled  to  Africa,  where,  after  wandering  a  long 
time,  he  was  at  last  delivered  up  to  Pompey,  \vho,  to 
please  Sylla,  ordered  him  to  be  beheaded.  Sylla  nor/ 
became  undisputed  master  of  his  country,  entered  Rome 
at  the  head  of  his  army.  Happy  had  he  supported  in 
peace  the  glory  which  he  had  acquired  in  war,  or  had  he 
ceased  to  live,  when  he  ceased  to  conquer. 

Eight  thousand  men  who  had  escaped  the  general 
carnage,  offered  themselves  to  the  conqueror;  he  order- 
ed them  to  be  put  into  the  Villa  Publica,  a  large  house 
in  the  Campus  Martius,  and  at  the  same  time  convok- 
ed the  senate ;  there  he  spoke  with  great  fluency,  and 
in  a  manner  no  way  discomposed,  of  his  own  exploits  ; 
and  in  the  mean  time  gave  private  directions,  that  all 
those  wretches  whom  he  had  confined  should  be  slain. 
The  senate,  amazed  at  the  horrid  outcries  of  the  suffer- 
ers, at  first  thought  that  the  city  was  given  up  to  plun- 
der ;  but  Sylla,  with  an  unembarrassed  air,  informed 
them  that  it  was  only  some  criminals  who  were  punish* 
ed  by  his  order,  and  that  they  needed  not  to  make  them* 
, elves  uneasy  about  their  fate.  The  day  after,  he  pro- 
;ec!  forty  senators  and  sixteen  hundred  knights  ;  and 


Till-   HISTORY  OF  THE 

after  an  intermission  of  two  days,  forty  senators  more, 

i  an  infinite  number  of  the  ri  '.ens  of  R 

He  next  resolved  to  invest  himself  with  the  cii 
ship,  and  thut  for  a  perpetuity  :  and  thu^  ,1  ci- 

vil as  well  as  military  power  in  his  own  person 
conscious  he  might  thence  give  an  air  of 
ry  oppression. 

In  this  manner  he  continued  to  go  • 
:yrir;r,y,  : 
to  t-  11  mankii.d,  he  loi<. 

- 

'.cr  this  he  retired  into  the 

joythcp:  <ppiness , 

he  did  net  Ion 
disease  which  .'.aras,  a  1< 

>ject,  and  capable  ». 
y  of  human  ambition. 

<0.] 

UPOX  iousiesof  Pompcy 

and  Crassus,  the  two  most  powerful 
empire,   lu-gan  u   excite   i;\-sh   dissentions.     Pon 

jclovcd  gt 
an  in  Rome. 

The  first  opportunity  that  rded  of  disco1, 

ing  their  nur.  upon  disc 

s,  with  which 

followed  his  example  immedi  r.     The  next  • 

>-en  them  \va>,  who  should  i  '.  in  ubtai: 

.of  the  people- 
thousand  different  labk  uted  cor: 
t  the  poor,  and  fed  the  grc 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         113 

the  citizens  for  near  three  months.  Pompey,  on  the 
o-ther  hand,  laboured  to  abrogate  the  laws  made  against 
the  people's  authority  by  Sylla  :  he  restored  the  power 
of  judging  to  the  knights,  which  had  been  formerly 
granted  them  by  Gracchus,  and  gave  back  to  the  tri- 
bunes of  the  people  all  their  former  privileges.  It  was 
thus  that  each  gave  his  private  aims  a  public  nppear- 
ance  ;  so  that  what  was  in  reality  ambition  in  both,  took 
with  one  the  name  of  liberality,  with  the  other  that  of 
freedom. 

An  expedition,  in  which  Pompey  cleared  the  Medi- 
terranean, which  was  infested  by  pirates,  having  added 
greatly  to  his  reputation,  the  tribunes  of  the  people  hoped 
it  would  be  easier  to  advance  their  favourite  still  high- 
er;  wherefore,  Manilius,  one  of  the  number,  preferred 
a  law,  that  all  the  armies  of  the  empire,  with  the  gov- 
ernment of  all  Asia,  together  with  the  management  of 
the  war,  which  was  renewed  against  Mithridaies,  should' 
be  committed  to  him  alone.  The  law  passed  with  little 
opposition,  and  the  decree  was  confirmed  by  all  the  tribes 
of  the  people. 

Being  thus  appointed  to  the  command  of  that  impor- 
t-ant war,  he  immediately  departed  for  Asia,  having  made 
the  proper  preparations  towards  forwarding  the  cam- 
paign. Mithridatcs  had  been  obliged  by  Lucullus  to 
take  refuge  in  Lesser  Armenia,  and  thither  that  general 
was  preparing  to  follow  him,  when  his  whole  army  aban- 
doned him,  so  that  it  remained  for  Pompey  to  terminate 
the  war,  which  lie  effected  with  great  case  and  expedi- 
tion, adding  a  large  extent  of  dominion  to  the  Koman 
empire,  and  returning  to  Rome  in  triumph,  at  the  head 
of  his  conquering  army. 

But  all  the  victories  of  Pompey  rather  served  to  heigh- 
ten the  glory  than  to  increase  the  power  of  Rome  ;  they 
only  made  it  a  more  glaring  object  of  ambition,  and  ex- 
posed its  liberties  to  greater  danger.  Those  liberties 
indeed  seemed  devoted  to  ruin  on  every  side  ;  for,  even- 
while  he  was  pursuing  his  conquests  abroad,  Rome  was 
at  the  verge  of  ruin  from  a  conspiracy  at  home.  This 
conspiracy  was  projected  and  carried  on  by  Sergius  Cat- 
ilinef  a  patrician  bv  birth,  who  resolved  to  build  his 
K  2  - 


114  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

own  power  on  the  downful  of   his  country.     He  wa* 
singularly  formed,  both  by  art  and  nature,  to  coih 
a  conspiracy  :  he  was  possessed  of  courage  equal  to  the 
most  desperate  attempts,  and  eloquence  to  give  a  colour 
to  his  ambition  ;  ruined  in  his  fortune,  profligate  ii. 
manners,  and  vigilant  in  pursuing  his  ain  I  in- 

>le  after  wealth,  only  with  a  view  to  1.  hi- 

guilty  pleasure. 

Catiline,  having  contracted  many  debts  by  the  loose- 
ness of  such  an  ill  spent  lift,  -jived  to  extricate 
himself  from  them  by  any  means  however  unlawful. 

Accordingly  he  assembled  about  thirty  of  his  debauch' 
ed  associates,  and  informed  them  of  his  aims,'his  hopes, 
and    his  sealed  plan   of  operation.     It 
•among  them  that  a  general  insurrection  should  be  raised 
throughout  Italy,  the  different  parts  of  v. 

«  the  diiV.  ers.     Rome  was  to  be  fired 

in  several  places  at  on  'fan 

army  raised  in  K  .  in  the  general  confusion  to 

posv  If  of  the  city,  and  massacre  all  the 

Lentulus,  one  of  i.  ate  assistant,  who  had  been 

lor,  or  judge  in  the  city,  was  to  preside  in  tl. 
•ouncils  :  Ccthcgus,  a  man  who  sacrificed  the  pos- 
^:on  of  great  present  power  to  the  hopt 
liis  revenge  a  .  was  to  direct  acre 

•  ugh  the  city  :  and  Cxsius  was  to  conduct  those 

But  the  vigik-nce  of  Cicero  being  a  chief  ob- 
Ic  to  their  .line  was  very  desirous  to  see 

him  taken  off  before  he  left  Rome 
\nights  of  the  company  undertook  to  kill  him  the  next 
morning  in  his  be  t  bu- 

siness.   But  the  meeting  was  no  sooner  over  than  Cicero 
had  information  of  all  that  passed  in  it  ;  for  by  the  in- 
trigues of  a  woman,  named  Tulvia,  he  had  gained 
Curius,  her  lover,  and  one  of  the  conspirators,  to  send 
n  a  punctual  account  of  their  deliberations.     Having 
'•n  proper  precautions  to  guard  himself  against  the 
iesigns  of  his  morning  visitors,  who  were  punctual  to 
•he  "appointment,  he  next  took  care  to  provide  for  the 
lefencc  of  the  city;  and,  assembling  the  senate,  con- 
Nest  to  be  done  in  th>«  time  -• 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          115 

The  first  step  taken  was  to  offer  considerable  rewards 
for  farther  discoveries,  and  then  lo  prepare  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  state.  Catiline,  to  shew  how  well  he  could 
dissemble,  or  justify  any  crime,  went  boldly  to  the  se- 
nate, declaring  his  innocence  ;  but  when  confronted  by 
the  eloquence  of  Cicero,  he  hastily  withdrew  ;  declaring 
aloud,  that  since  he  was  denied  a  vindication  of  himself, 
and  driven  headlong  by  his  enemies,  he  would  extin- 
guish the  flames  which  was  raised  about  him  in  univer- 
uin.  Accordingly,  after  a  short  conference  with 
Lentulus  and  Cethegus,  he  left  Rome  by  night,  with  a 
small  retinue,  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  towards  Etru- 
ria,  where  Manilius,  one  of  the  conspirators,  was  raising 
an  army  to  support  him. 

In  the  mean  time  Cicero  took  proper  precautions  to 
secure  all  those  of  the  conspiracy  who  remained  in  Rome. 
Lentulus,  Cethegus,  Caesius,  and  several  others,  were 
put  in  confinement ;  asd  soon  after,  by  the  command  of 
the  senate,  being  delivered  over  to  the  executioner, 
were  strangled  in  prison. 

While  his  associates  were  put  to  death  in  the  city, 
Catiline  had  raised  an  army  of  twelve  thousand  men  ; 
hich  a  fourth  part  only  was  completely  armed  ;  the 
rest  being  furnished  with  what  chance  afforded,  darts, 
lances,  and  clubs.  He  refused  at  first  to  enlist  slaves, 
who  had  flocked  to  him  in  great  numbers,  trusting  to 
the  proper  strength  of  the  conspiracy  ;  but,  upon  the  ap- 
proach of  the  cqnsul,  who  was  sent  against  him,  and  up- 
on the  arrival  of  the  news  that  his  confederates  vere 
put  to  death  in  Rome,  the  face  of  his  affairs  were  en- 
tirely altered.  His  first  attempt,  therefore,  was  by  long- 
marches,  to  make  his  escape  over  the  Apennines  into 
Gaul ;  but  in  this  his  hopes  were  disappointed,  all  the 
passes  being  strictly  guarded  by  an  army  under  Metel- 
lus,  superior  to  his  own.  Being  thus  hemmed  in  on  ev- 
ery side,  and  seeing  all  things  desperate,  with  nothing, 
left  him  but  either  to  die  or  conquer,  he  resolved  to  make 
one  vigorous  effort  against  that  army  which  pursued 
him.  Antonius,the  consul,  being  himself  sick,  the  com- 
mand devolved' upon  his  lieutenant  Petreius,  who  after 
?rce  and  bloody  action,  in  which  he  lost  a  coirsidera- 


THE  HISfORY  OF  THE 

ble  part  of  his  best  troops,  put  Catiline's  forces  to  the 
rout,  and  destroyed  his  whole  army,  which  fought  des- 
perately to  the  last  man. 

The  extinction  of  this  conspiracy  seemed  only  to  leave 
an  open  theatre  for  the  ambition  of  the  great  men  of  the 
state  to  display  itself  in.  Pompey  was  now  returned  in 
triumph  from  conquering  the  seas,  as  he  had  before 
been  victorious  in  Europe  and  Africa. 

I,  as  we  have  already  observed,  was  the  richest 
man  in  Rome  ;  and  next  to  him,  possessed  of  the  great- 
est authority  :  his  party  in  the  sc  even  stronger 
than  that  of  Pompey  his  !  the  envy  raised 

ist  him  was  less.     He  and  Pompey  had  been 

'tiled  by  an  opposition  of  interests  and  c! 
ters  :   however,  it  was  from  a  continuance  of  their  mi 
jealousies  that  iru  is  in  some  ru- 

pect  its  futuit 

'  gone  prar.or  into 

n,  and  had  returned  with   t 
resolved  to  convert  their  mutual  jealousy  t 

.tge.     This  celebrated  man  was  ncp!  rius 

by  the  female  descended  from  one  of 

illustrious  families  in  Romf 

by  the  regular  :isofoQkc.  tor, 

aedii< 

scended  from  popular  ancestors,  he  w: 
ide  of  the  people  ;  and  shortly  after  the  d< 
procured  those  whom  he   h  cd  to  be 

He  had  all  along  declared  for  the  po] 

:c,  and  by  this  became  their  mo^ 
trate.     This  consumm.r 

us  services  to  Pompey,  pro 

.-.g  all  his  acts  ; 

opposition.     Pompey,  pleased  at  the  a< 
son  of  so  much  merit,  readily  granted  him  his  c< 
and  protection.     He  next  applied  to  C  ho,  from 

former  connections  was  disposed  to  become  still  more 
nearly  his  friend  :  at  length,   finding  neither  of  d 
averse  to  an  union  of  interests,  he  took  an  opportunity 
of  bringing  them  together;  and  remonstrating  to  them 
on  the  advantage  as  well  as  the  necessity  of  a  recoiv 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         117 

aion,  he  had  art  enough  to  persuade  them  to  forget 
former  animosities.  A  combination  was  thus  formed, 
by  which  they  three  agreed  that  nothing  should  be  done 
in  the  commonwealth  but  what  received  their  mutual 
concurrence  and  approbation.  This  was  called  the  first 
Triumvirate,  by  which  we  find  the  constitution  weak- 
ened by  a  new  interest  that  had  not  hitherto  taken  place 
in  the  government,  very  different  from  that  either  of  the 
senate  or  the  people,  and  yet  dependent  on  both. 

CHAP.  XX. 

n  the  beginning  of  the  first  Triumvir  at  e>  to  the 

[U.  C.  691.] 

THE  first  thing  Cscsar  did,  upon  being:  taken  into 
the  triumvirate,  WLS  to  avail  himself  of  the  interest 
>  confederates  to  obtain  the  consulship.  The  senate 
had   stiil  some  influence  left ;  and,  though  they  were 
;ed  to  concur  in  chusing,  yet  they  gave  him  for  a 
one  lUbulus,  who  they  supposed  would  be  a 
check  upon  his  power  ;    but  the  opposition  was  too 
.'*  for  even  superior  abilities  to  resist  it  ;  so  that 
liibulus,  after  a  slight  attempt  in  favour  of  the  senate, 
ined  inactive.     Caesar  began   his  schemes  for  em- 
pire, by  ingratiating  himself  with  the  people  ;  he  pro- 
cured a  law   for   dividing   certain   lands  in  Campania 
among  such  of  the  poor  citizens  as  had  at  least  three 
!ren.     This  proposal  was  just  enough  in  itself,  and 
criminal  from  the  views  of  the  proposer. 
Having  thus  strengthened  himself  at  home,  he  next 
d  with  his  confederates  about  sharing  the  fo- 
i  provinces  of  the  empire  between  them.     The  par- 
soon  miide  :   Pompey  chose  Spain  for  his  own 
part  ;  for  being  fatigued   with   conquest,  and  satiated 
with  military  fame,  he  was  willing  to  take  his  pleasures 
jme.     Crassus  chose  Syria  for  his  part  of  the  em- 
pire ;  v;hich  province,  as  it   had  hitherto *enriched  the 
generals  who  had  subsued  it,  would,  he  hoped,  gratify 


118  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

him  in  this  most  favourite  pursuit.     To  Czsar  was 
the  province  of  Gaul ;  composed  of  many  fierce  and 
powerful  nations,  most  of  them  unsubdued,  and  the  rest 
only  professing  a  nominal  subjection.     Wherefore,  as  it 

rather  appointing  him  to  conquer  than  command, 
this  government  was  granted  him  for  five  years,  ~ 
'by  its  continuance,  to  compensate  for  its  danger. 

It  would  be  impossible  in  this  narrow  compass,  to 
enumerate  all  the  battles  Caesar  fought,  and  tl. 
he  subdued  in  his  expeditions  into  Gaul  and  Bn 

is  continued  eight  years.     The  Helvetians  were  the 
first  Unit  were  brought  into  subj  .-.h  the  loss  of 

near  two  hundred  thousand  men  ;  those  who  remained 
after  the  carnage  were  .  vsar  in  safety  to  the  for- 

ests from  whence  they  i  he  Germans, 

Ariovistus  at  their  he.:-.  it  off,  to  •. 

berof  eighty  thousand 
ly  escaping  in  a  little  be. 

were  cute  ;rcat  slaughter  ->  and 

deep  rivers  were  rendered  passible  from  the  heaps  of 
slain.     The  Nervians,  who  were  the  most  warlike  of 
those  barbarous  nations,  made  head  for  a  short  time, 
and  fell  upon  the  Romans  with  such  fur}-,  that  their  ar- 
my was  in  danger  of  being  utterly  routed  ;  but  Caesar 
himself,  hastily  catching  up  a  buckler,  rushed  through 
his  army  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  by  which  means 
he  so  turned  the  fate  of  the  day,  that  the  barbarians  ^ 
all  cut  off  to  a  man.     The  Celtic  Gauls,  who  were  pow- 
erful at  sea,  were  next  brought  under  subjection.     After, 
them  the  Suevi,  the  Menapii,  and  all  the  nations  from 
the  Mediterranean  to  the  British  sea.     From  thence, 
stimulated  by  the  desire  of  conquest,  he  crossed  o\v 
to  Britain,  upon  pretence  that  the  natives  had  furnished 
his  enemies  with  continual  supplies.  Upon  approac 
the  shores  he  found  them  covered  with  men  to  oj 
his  landing,  and  his  forces  were  in  danger  of  being  driv- 
en back,  till  the  standard  bearer  of  the  tenth  legion  : 
ly  leaped  ashore,  and,  being  well  assisted  by  Caesai 

ves  were  put  to  flight.  The  Britons,  being  terrifi- 
ed at  Caesar's  power,  sent  to  desire  a  peace  which  was 
granted  them, and  some  hostages  delivered.  A  storm 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         119 

however,  soon  after,  destroying  great  part  of  his  fleet, 
they  resolved  to  take  advantage  of  the  disaster,  and 
marched  against  him  with  a  powerful  army.  But  what 
could  a  naked  undisciplined  army  do  against  forces  that 
had  been  exercised  under  the  greatest  generals,  ami 
hardened  by  the  conquests  of  the  greatest  part  of  the 
world  ?  Being  overthrown,  they  were  obliged  once  more 
to  sue  for  peace  ;  which  Caesar  granted  them,  and  then 
returned  to  the  continent.  Thus,  in  less  than  nine  years, 
he  conquered,  together  with  Britain,  all  that  country 
which  extends  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  German 

sea.  iif£f 

While  Caesar  wjn»*flfc|fcrcasing  his  reputation  and 
riches  abroad,  Pdmpey,  \^ro  remained  all  the  time  in 
c,  steadily  co-operated  with  his  ambition,  and  ad- 
vanced his  interests,  while  he  vainly  supposed  he  was  for- 
•warding  his  own.     By  his  means  Caesar  was  continued 
five  years  longer  in  Gaul  :  nor  was  he  roused  from  his 
lethargy,  till  the  fame  of  that  great  commander's  valour, 
riches,  and  humanity,  began  secretly  to  give  him  pain, 
and  to  make  him  suppose  they  began  to  eclipse  his  own  ; 
for,  as  being  more  recent,  they  were  more  talked  of. 
He  now,  therefore,  began  to  do  all   in  his  power  to  di- 
minish C re sar's  reputation,  obliging  the  magistrates  not 
to  publish  any  letters  they  received  from  him  till  he  had 
diminished  the  credit  of  them,  by  spreading  disadvanta- 
geous reports :    one  or  two  accidents  also  helped  to 
widen  the  separation  :  namely,  the  death  of  Julia,  Pom- 
pey's  wife,  who  had  not  only  a  little  contributed  to  im- 
prove the  harmony  that  subsisted  between  them  ;  and 
the  destruction  of  Crassus,  who  had  conducted  the  war 
against  the  Parthians  with  so  little  prudence,  that  he 
suffered  the  enemy  to  get  the  advantage  of  him  in  al- 
most every    skirmish  ;    and   incapable   of  extricating 
himself  from  the  difficulties  in  which  he  was  involved, 
he  fell  a  sacrifice  to  his  own  rashness,  being  killed,  brave- 
ly defending  himself  to  the  last. 

Caesar,  who  now  began  to  be  sensible  of  the  jealousies 
of  Pompey,  took  occasion  to  solicit  for  the  consulship,  to- 
gether with  a  prolongation  of  his  government  in  Gaul, 
desirous  of  trying  whether  Pompey  would  thwart  or  pro- 


THL  HISTORY  O- 

mote  his  pretensions.  In  this  Pornpey  seemed  to  be  <juuc 
;naclive  ;  but  at  the  same  time  privately  >  :  two 

eatures,  who  alledged  in  the  senate  that  the 
not  permit  a  person  that  was  absent  to  ofie 
I  candidate  for  that  high  ofike.     Pompey'^ 
this  was  to  allure  Caesar,  from  his  go . 
to  stand  for  the  consulship  i 
perceiving  his  artifice,  chose  to  rem. 
convinced)  that  while  he  headed  su- 
devoted  to  his  interest,  he  conk! 
laws  as  well  :  ates  to  the  state. 

The  senate,  which  were  now  devoted  to  Pompi 

c  he  had  for  some  time  attempted  to  '.icm 

from  the  encroachments  of  the  people,  ordered  the  two 

pey.  .is  pretended,  to  o\  , 

:>cc  of  the 

orders  of  the  -  •  :  the  oili- 

to  him  wr.h  i  (  .  ul  the  so,  ;un- 

itc  took  v 

piring.     JBut  Curio,  lu 
that  Cjesur  should  not  leave  his  army  till 
im  the  example,      'i'liis  for  a  while  pc ; 
pey  ;  however, during  the  d 

cctly  towards 

mediately  (juiitiu^  the  scnutc,  v 
forth  from  tin- 
time 

insr  him  n  march 
defence  « 

ready  to  obey  :  but,  with  an  air  Oir  pretended 
lion,  added,  that  it  was  only  in  case  more 
clients  could  not  be  employ* 

uctcd  in  all  that  passed  by 
partizans  at  Rome,  though  he  was  still  i. 
willi  .e  his  aims  all  the  appearance  of  jusf 

He  agreed  to  lay  down  his  emp'oymcm  when  Pompey 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          12 i 

Miould  do  the  same.  But  the  senate  rejected  all  his  pro- 
positions, blindly  confident  of  their  own  power,  and  re- 
lying on  the  assurances  of  Pompey.  Caesar,  still  unwil- 
ling to  come  to  an  open  rupture  with  the  state,  at  last 
was  content  to  ask  the  government  of  Illyria,  with  two 
legions  ;  but  this  also  was  refused  him.  Now,  therefore, 
finding  all  hopes  of  an  accommodation  fruitless,  and  con- 
scious, if  not  of  the  goodness  of  his  cause,  at  least  of 
the  goodness  of  his  troops,  he  began  to  draw  them  down 
rds  the  confines  of  Italy,  and,  passing  the  Alps  with 
Ms  third  legion,  stopped  at  Ravenna,  a  city  of  Cisalpine 
Gaul,  from  whence  he  once  more  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
consuls,  declaring  that  he  was  ready  to  resign  all  com- 
mand in  case  Pompey  did  so  too.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  senate  decreed  that  Caesar  should  lay  down  his 
i  rnment,and  disband  his  force,  within  a  limited  time  ; 
and  if  he  refused  obedience,  that  he  should  be  declared 
an  enemy  to  the  commonwealth. 

C^sar,  however,  seemed  no  way  disturbed  at  these  vio- 
lent proceedings  :  the  night  before  his  intended  expedi- 
tion into  Italy,  he  sat  down  to  table  cheerfully  convers- 
ing with  his  friends  on  the  subjects  of  literature  and 
philosophy,  and  apparently  disengaged  from  every  am- 
bitious concern.  After  some  time,  rising  up,  he  desired 
the  company  to  make  themselves  cheerful  in  his  absence, 
and  that  he  would  be  with  them  in  a  moment :  in  the 
mean  time,  having  ordered  his  chariot  to  be  prepared, 
he  immediately  set  out,  attended  by  a  few  friends,  for 
Arminium,  a  city  upon  the  confines  of  Italy,  whither  he 
had  dispatched  a  part  of  his  army  the  morning  before. 
This  journey  by  night,  which  was  very  fatiguing,  lie 
performed  with  great  diligence,  sometimes  walking,  and 
sometimes  on  horseback,  till,  at  the  break  of  day,  he 
.e  up  with  his  army,  which  consisted  of  about  five 
thousand  men,  near  the  Rubicon,  a  little  river  which 
separates  Italy  from  Gaul,  and  which  terminated  the 
limits  of  Jus  command.  The  Romans  had  ever  been 
taught  to  consider  this  river  as  the  sacred  boundary  of 
their  domestic  empire  ;  Caesar,  therefore,  when  he  ad- 
vanced at  the  head  of  his  army,  to  the  side  of  the  river, 
stopt  short  upon  the  bank,  as  if  imprest  with  terror  at 
L 


Till.  HISTORY  OF  Tl 

the  greatness  of  his  enterprise.     He  pom1.  /me 

time  in  fixed  melancholy,  looking;  upon  the  river,  and 
debating  with  himself  whether  he  should  venture  in  : — 
••  It  1  pass  this  ri\  he  to  one  of  •  i  rals 

who  stood  by  him,    u  \\luit  miseries  shall  I  bring  upon 
4i  my  country  !  and,  if  now  I  stop  short,  ! 
Thu  and  resuming  all  I 

plunged  in.  trying  out,  that  the  • 
now  over.    I ! 
titude,  and  quickly 

schi  -  of  the  pi  cc. 

This  rdenterp  errors 

every  one  in 

rmy  to  L.  in  ruins.     At  one  tinu 

.•en  the  citizens  flying  into  the  country  : 

•  Hants  of  the  country  corni:  .  for 

me.     In  this  univc: 
felt    all   t 

rememb! 

wherever  vere 

ready  to  tax   him 

to  repro.ich  his  ill  grounder 

u  no  jru'us,  a  ridiculous  senator  t>- 

ty,  »•  the  army  lhat  is  t  our  comn  ci  us 

44  see  if  it  wi  by  stamping."     Cato  reminded 

,  as  he  was  cumin v 

end- 

10.     But  being  at  lei;  re- 

colour  of  ad 
•  a«»e  and 
.  his  followers  :  he  told  them  that    they  should  not 

,,1  be  tin 

ulecd,  that  he  had  all  along 

is,  judging  of  them  only  from  what   they  ought  to 
ends  were  still  inspired  with  the 
love  of  freedom,  they  might  yet  enjoy  it  in 
place  th;  ides  should  happen  to  conduct  them, 

lie  let  them  know  that  their  afi'airs  were  in  a  very  pro- 
his  two  lieutenai, 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          123 

head  of  a  very  considerable  army  in  Spain,  composed  of 
veteran  troops  that  had  made  the  conquest  of  the  East ; 
besides  these,  there  were  infinite  resources,  both  in  Asia 
and  Africa,  together  with  the  succours  they  were  sure 
to  expect  from  all  the  kingdoms  that  were  in  alliance 
with  Rome.  This  speech  served  in  some  measure  to 
revive  the  hopes  of  the  confederacy.  The  greatest  part 
of  the  senate,  his  own  private  friends  and  dependents, 
together  with  all  those  who  expected  to  make  their  for- 
tunes in  his  cause,  agreed  to  follow  him.  Being  in  no 
capacity  to  resist  Caesar  at  Rome,  he  resolved  to  lead  his 
forces  to  Capua,  where  he  commanded  the  two  legions 
ihat  served  under  Caesar  in  Gaul. 

Caesar,  in  the  mean  time,  after  having  vainly  attempt- 
ed to  bring  Pompey  to  an  accommodation,  resolved  to 
pursue  him  into  Capua,  before  he  could  collect  his  for- 
Accordingly,  he  marched  on  to  take  possession  of 
the  cities  that  lay  between  him  and  his  rival,  not  regard- 
ing Rome,  which  he  knew  would  fall  of  course  to  the 
conqueror. 

Corsinium  was  the  first  city  that  attempted  to  stop 
the  rapidity  of  his  march.  It  was  defended  by  Domi- 
tius,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  senate  to  succeed 
him  in  Gaul,  and  was  garrisoned  by  twenty  cohorts, 
which  were  levies  in  the  countries  adjacent ;  Caesar 
however,  quickly  invested  it ;  and,  though  Domitius 
sent  frequency  to  Pompey,  exhorting  him  to  come  and 
raise  the  siege,  he  was  at  last  obliged  to  endeavour  to 
escape  privately.  His  intentions  happened  to  be  di- 
vulged, the  garrison  were  resolved  to  consult  their  own 
safety  by  delivering  him  up  to  the  besiegers.  Csesar 
readily  accepted  their  offers,  but  kept  his  men  from  im- 
mediately entering  into  the  town.  After  some  time, 
Lentulus  the  consul,  who  was  one  of  the  besieged,  came 
out  to  implore  forgiveness  for  himself  and  the  rest  of 
his  confederates,  putting  Caesar  in  mind  of  their  ancient 
friendship,  and  acknowledging  the  many  favours  he  had 
received  at  his  hands.  To  this  Caesar,  who  would  not 
wait  the  conclusion  of  his  speech,  generously  replied, 
that  he  came  into  Italy,  not  to  injure  the  liberties  of 
Rome  and  its  citizens,  but  to  restore  them.  This  hu- 


Till-   HISTOHY  OF  TI 

mane  reply  being  quickly  carried  into  the  city,  the 

tors  and  the  knights, -with  their  children,  and  sorru 

cers  of  the  garrison,  came  out  to  claim  the  conrjiu 

protection,  who,  just  glancing  at  thti 

them  their  liberty,  with  permission  to  go  \»hi 

they  should  think  piopcr.     But 

leaders,  he,  upon  this,  as  uj 

care  to  attach  the  common  soldiers  to  hi^ 

sensible  that  he  might  stand  in  need  of  an  i 

while  he  lived,  his  army  could  never  of  a 

commander. 

Pompey,  who  was  unable  to  continue  in  r 
ing  inteil  ii  passed  on  this  or 

•cly  retreated  to  Brundusium,  where  i.< 
stand  a  seige  to  retard  the  enemy  until  the  for-  < 
empire  should  be  united  to  < 
succecdc 

ne  time 

had  lev  it 

thou 

leave  the  who!  mercy  o: 

rival,  without  either  a  tov>r.  or  an  g 

:o  oppose  his  progr 

\-sar,  find::  ;ld  not  follow  Pom 

of  shippii  .ck  to  Rome  to  take  pov 

l^ublictrc  lichhisopponcj. 

able  oversight 

ever,  upon  hi  up  to  the  door  ot 

Mctellus,  the  tribune,  who  guarded  it,  refu 
pass;  bir 
iiis  h.'.nd  upon 

ef- 
fect ,  Metclh:  ar  took  out  of  the  t\ 

:  of  three  thousand  poi.1  '.  of 

v  of  silver. 
II  .•,:.'•  vims  provided  for  continuing  the  war,  he 

jm  Koine,  resolved  to  subdue  Pompi 
?enu  iius  and  Petreius,  who  had  been  lorn 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.         125 

choicest  legions  of  the  empire,  who  had  been  ever  victo- 
rious under  all  its  commanders.  Caesar,  however,  who 
knew  the  abilities  of  its  two  present  generals,  jocosely 
said,  as  he  was  preparing  to  go  thither,  that  he  went  to 
fight  an  army  without  a  general ;  and  upon  conquering 
it,  would  return  to  fight  a  general  without  an  army. 

The  first  conflict  which  he  had  with  Afranius  and 
Petreius  was  rather  unfavourable.  It  was  fought  near 
the  city  of  Herda,  and  both  sides  claimed  the  honour 
of  the  victory.  But  by  various  stratagems  he  reduced 
them  at  last  to  such  extremity  of  hunger  and  drought 
that  they  were  obliged  to  yield  at  discretion.  .  Clemency 
was  his  favourite  virtue ;  he  dismissed  them  all  with  the 
kindest  professions  ?  and  sent  them  jjome  to  Rome  laden 
with  shame  and  obligations,  to  publish  his  virtues,  and 
confirm  the  affections  of  his  adherents.  Thus,  in  tne 
space  of  about  forty  days,  he  became  master  of  all  Spain, 
and  returned  again  victorious  to  Rome.  The  citizenr, 
upon  this  occasion,  received  him  with  fresh  demonstra- 
tions of  joy,  and  created  him  dictator  and  consul ;  but 
the  first  of  these  offices  he  laid  down  after  he  had  held 
it  eleven  days. 

While  Caesar  was  thus  employed,  Pompey  was  equal- 
ly active  in  making  preparations  in  Epirus  and  Greece 
to  oppose  him.  All  the  monarchs  of  the  East  had  de- 
clared in  his  favour,  and  sent  very  large  supplies.  He 
was  master  of  nine  effective  Italian  legions,  and  had  a 
fleet  of  five  hundred  large  ships,  under  the  conduct  of 
Bibulus,  an  active  and  experienced  commander.  Added 
to  these,  he  was  supplied  with  large  sums  of  money,  and 
all  the  necessaries  for  an  army,  from  the  tributary  pro- 
vinces round  him.  He  had  attacked  Anthony  and  Do- 
label  la,  who  commanded  for  Caesar  in  that  part  of  the 
empire,  with  such  success,  that  the  former  was  obliged 
to  fly,  and  the  latter  was  taken  prisoner.  Crowds  of  the 
distinguished  citizens  and  nobles  from  Rome  came  every 
day  to  join  him.  He  had  at  one  time  about  two  hun- 
dred senators  in  his  camp,  among  whom  were  Cicero 
and  Cato,  whose  approbation  of  his  cause  was  equiva* 
lent  to  an  army. 

L  2 


126  HIE  HISTORY  OF  TH , 

'.withstanding  these  preparations,  Caesar  shipped  off 
sat  Brundusium,  and,  weighing 

anchor,  fortui:  red  through  the  midst  of  his  ene- 

mies, timing  it  so  well  that  he  made  his  j ...  one 

Still,  however,  convinced  that  ti 

.ing  proposals  for  ;.  g  an  ad- 

vantage, he  sent  one  Hi: 
to  effect  an  accommodation  with  I 

fer  all  to  the  senate  and  people  of  Rome  ;  but  Pompey 
once  i  lure,  holding  the  people  of 

Rome  too  much  in  C'a.sar'b  interest  to  be  relied  on. 

;  supplies  in  M 

first  intoi  UK-  >i\  the  coast  of  1 

rus  :   hci.  'ore  resolved  immediately  to  march  to 

Dyracchium,  to  cover ;  sar'a 

attempts,  as  all  his  ammuiii  were  de- 

posi  .e  in 

the  opp 

two 
1  for 

La  of  the  c 

illing  to  hazard  it  upon  this  * 
-pey  could  not  lely  upon  his 

Mure  an  engagement,  till  he  ,1  by 

the  rest  of  hi- 

ir  had  now  waited  some  time  with  extrer 
•nee  for  t!  uy  up  of  t:. 

urcd  out  alone  in  an  OJK 
:  rival,  but  he 

information  of  the  landing  of  the    troops  he 
expected  at  Appolloni. 

xhing,  under  the  conduct  of  Anthony  and  Calenus, 
to  join  him  ;  he  therefore  decamped  in  order  to  i 
them,  and  prevent  Pompey,  with  his  army,  from 

•hem  on  their  march,  as  he  lay  on  [ha 
the  river,  where  the  *-ucco\  jn  obliged  to  come 

on  shore. 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          isr 

Pompey  being  compelled  to  retreat,  led  his  forces  to 
Asparagus,  nigh  Dyracchium,  where  he  was  sure  of 
being  pupplied  with  every  thing  necessary  for  his  army 
by  the  numerous  fleets  which  he  employed  along  the 
coasts  of  Epirus  :  there  he  pitched  his  camp  upon  a 
tongue  of  land  (as  mariners  expressed  it)  that  jutted  into 
the  sea,  where  also  was  a  small  shelter  for  ships,  where 
few  winds  could  annoy  them  :  in  this  place,  being  most 
advantageously  situated,  he  immediately  began  to  en- 
trench his  camp  :  which  Caesar  perceiving,  and  finding 
that  he  was  not  likely  soon  to  quit  so  advantageous  a 
post,  began  to  entrench  ajso  behind  him.  And  as  all 
beyond  Pompey's  camp,  towards  the  land  side,  was  hil- 
ly and  steep,  he  built  redoubts  upon  the  hills,  stretching 
round  from  shore  to  shore,  and  then  caused  lines  of  com- 
munication to  be  drawn  from  hill  to  hill,  by  which  he 
blocked  up  the  camp  of  the  enemy.  He  hoped  by 
this  blockade  to  force  his  opponent  to  a  battle,  which 
lie  ardently  desired,  and  which  the  other  with  equal  in- 
dustry declined.  Thus  both  sides  continued  for  some 
time  employed  in  designs  and  stratagems,  the  one  to 
annoy  and  the  other  to  defend.  Csesar's  men  daily 
;cd  on  their  works  to  straiten  the  enemy  ;  those  of 
Pompey  did  the  same  to  enlarge  themselves,  having  the 
advantage  of  numbers,  and  severely  galled  the  enemy 
by  their  slingers  and  archers.  Caesar,  however,  was  in- 
defatigable ;  he  caused  blinds  or  mantles  to  be  made  of 
skins  of  beasts,  to  cover  his  men  while  at  work  ;  he  cut 
off  all  the  water  that  supplied  the  enemy's  camp,  and 
forage  from  the  horses,  so  that  there  remained  no  more 
subsistence  for  them.  But  Pompey  at  last  resqlved  ta 
break  through  his  lines,  and  gain  some  other  part  of  the 
country  more  convenient  for  encampment.  According- 
ly, having  informed  himself  of  the  condition  of  Caesar's 
fortifications  from  some  deserters  who  came  over  to 
him,  he  ordered  his  light  infantry  and  archers  on  board 
his  ships,  with  directions  to  attack  Caesar's  entrench- 
ments by  sea,  where  they  were  least  defended.  This 
was  done  with  such  effect,  that  though  Caesar  and  his 
officers  used  their  utmost  endeavours  to  hinder  Pom- 
pey's designs,  yet,  by  means  of  reiteTated  attempts,  he 


\3I  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

at  last  effected  his  purpose  of  extricating  his  army  from 
his  former  camp,  and  of  encamping  in  another  place  by 
the  sea,  where  he  had  the  conveniency   of  forage 
shipping  also.     Caesar,  being  thus  frustrated  in  his  views 
of  blocking  up  the  enemy,  and  perceiving  the  los 
had  sustained,  resolved  at  last  to  force  Pompey  to  a  bat- 
tle, though  upon  disadvantageous  terms.     The  engage- 
ment began  by  attempting  to  cut  off  a  legion  w 
posted  in  a  wood,  and  this  brought  on  a  general  battle. 
The  conflict  was  for  some  time  carried  on  with  great 
ardour,  and  with  equal  fortune  ;  but  army  be- 

ing entangled  in  the  entrenchments  of  the  old  camps 
Jately  abandoned,  began  to  fall  into  disorder ;  upon 
Avhich  Pompey  pressing  his  advantage,  they  at  last  fled 
with  great  precipitation  .umbers  perished  in  the 

*renchrs  and  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  or  were  pressed 
to  death  by  their  fellows.     Pompey  jv. 
•  cs  to  the  very  camp  of  Caesar ;  but  either  surpi 

uddcnness  of  his  victory,  cr  fearful  of  an  ambuscade, 
he  withdrew  his  troops  into  his  own  camp,  and  thus  lost 
an  opportunity  of  securing  his  victory. 

After  this  defeat,  which  was  by  no  means  de- 
Caesar  marched,  with  all  his  forces  united  into  one  bo- 
dy, directly  to  Gomphi,  a  town  in  the  pro\ 
saly.     But  the  news  of  his  defeat  at  Dyrrachium  had 
reached  this  place  before  him  ;  the  inhabitants  there- 
fore, who   had  before   promised  him   obedience,  now 
changed   their  minds;  and,  with  a  degree  of  baseness 
equal  to  their  imprudence,  shut  their  gates  against  him. 
Caesar  was  not  to  be  injured  with  imp 
having  represented  to  his  soldiers  the  great  advantage 
of  forcing  a  place  so  very  rich,  he  ordered  the  i. 
for  scaling  to  be  got  ready  ;  and  causing  U  to 

he  made,  proceeded  with  such  vigour,  that,  notwith- 
standing the  great  height  of  the  walls,  the  town  was  ta- 
ken in  a  few  hours  time.  Caesar  left  it  to  be  plundei 
and,  without  delaying  his  march,  went  forward  to 
Metropolis,  another  town  of  the  same  province,  which 
yielded  at  his  approach.  %  By  this  means  he  soon  became 
possessed  of  all  Thessaly,  except  Larissa,  which  was  gar* 
rlscned  by  Scipio  with  his  legion  who  commanded  for 


COMMONWEALTH  OF   ROME.         129 

iPompey.  During  this  interval,  Pompey's  officers  con- 
tinually soliciting  their  commander  to  come  to  a  battle, 
and  incessantly  teasing  him  with  importunities  to  en- 
e,  he  at  length  resolved  to  renounce  his  own  judg- 
ment, in  compliance  with  those  about  him,  and  to  give 
up  all  schemes  of  prudence  for  those  dictated  by  avarice 
and  passion.  Wherefore,  advancing  into  Thessaly  with- 
in a  few  days  after  the  taking  of  Gomphi,  he  drew  down 
^.ipon  the  plains  ofPharsalia,  where  he  was  joined  by 
Scipio,  his  lieutenant,  with  the  troops  under  his  com- 
mand. There  he  waited  the  coming  up  of  Cxsar,  re- 
ed upon  engaging,  and  upon  deciding  the  fate  of  the 
kingdom  at  a  single  battle. 

Caesar  had  employed  all  his  art  for  some  time  in 
iding  the  inclinations  of  his  men  ;  and  finding  his 
army  once  more  resolute  and  vigorous,  he  caused  them 
to  advance  towards  the  plains  of  Pluirsalia,  where  Pom- 
pey  was  now  encamped  and  prepared  to  oppose  him. 
The  approach  of  these  two  great  armies,  composed  of 
ijestand  bravest  troops  in  the  world,  together  with 
1  he  greatness  of  the  prize  for  which  they  contended,  fil- 
led all  minds  with  anxiety,  though  with  different  expcc- 
rations.     Pompey's  army,  being  most  numerous  turn- 
ed all  their  thoughts  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  victory  ; 
Caesar's,  with  better  aims,  considered  only  the  meaus  of 
obtaining   it  :    Pompey's  army  depended    upon   their 
numbers  and  their  many  generals  ;  Caesar's  upon  their 
discipline,  and  the  conduct  of  their  single  com- 
mander :  Pompey's  partizans  hoped  much  from  the  jus- 
Mce^t' their  cause  ;  Caesars  alledged  the  frequent  pro- 
posals which  they  had  made  for  peace  without  effect. 
Thus  the  views,  hopes,  and  motives  of  both  seemed  dif- 
ferent, but  their  hatred  and  ambition  were  the  same. 
Cxsur,  who  was  ever  foremost  in  offering  battle,  led  out 
his  army  in  array  to  meet  the  enemy  ;  but  Pompey, 
<. ithcr  suspecting  his  troops,  or  dreading  the  event,  kept 
liis  advantageous  situation  for  some  time  :  he  drew  in- 
deed sometimes  out  of  his  camp,  but  always  kept  him- 
under   his  trenches,  at   the  foot  of  the  hill  near^ 
which  he  was  posted.     Caesar,  being  unwilling  to  attack 
at  a  disadvantage,  resolved  to  decamp  the  next 


130  ii:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

hoping  to  harrass  out  Ins  antagonist,  who  was  not 
a  match  for  him  in  sustaining  the  fatigues  of  duty. 
Accordingly,  the  order  for  marching  w:  and 

the   tents  struck,    when  word    was    brought 
"empty's  army   had  quitted  their  entrenchments,  and 

i.ito  the  pi. 

hen,  ,pon 

b  to  halt, 

and  with  a  countenance  of  the 

long 

to  crown  i 

•n  this  he  drcv  ops 

.n  order,  and  advanced  the   place  of  battle. — 

:    the 
«  nty-two  ' 

proporiii 

thec  scrc- 

hc  had  soi  :>cforc  pi 

nimblest  of  his  foot  so! 
to  fight  between  i!  .  their  aa- 

d,   and  had   actual  1 

fore. 

Pompey>  on  the  other  h  :ons  of 

success  ;  he  boasted  that  he  could  put  Csesar's  lev 
to  flight  without  strikin  i^low  ;  p: 

h  he 
plact  ions,  would  on  i 

mmended  tins  scl 
j)rescnt  troop 
whi 

dow  of  those  old  legions  that  had  fought  in  H: 
Gaul  i  that  all  the  veterans  were  won. 
'.iiccdbyru-  in  a  burn 

To  increase  the  confidence  of  the  army  still  more 
took  an  oath,  which  the  r«.  or  to 

return  to  the  camp  but  with  victory.     In  i  i 
under  these  advantageous  circumsta:, 
'cd  his  troops  to  battle, 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          I3i 

Potnpey's  order  of  battle  was  good  and  well  judged. 
In  the  centre,  and  on  the  two  flanks,  he  placed  all  his 
veterans,  and  distributed  his  new  raised  troops  between 
the  wings  and  the  main  body.     The  Syrian  legions  were 
placed  in  the  centre,  under  the  command  of  Scipio  ;  the 
Spaniards,  on  whom  he  greatly  relied,  were  put  on  the 
right  under  Domitius  Jtnobarbus,  and  on  the  left  were 
stationed  the  two  legions  which  Caesar  had  restored  in 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  led  on  by  Pompcy  himself ; 
because  from  thence  he  intended  to  make  the  attack 
which  was  to  gain  the  day  ;  and  for  the  same  reason  he 
had  there  assembled  all  his  horse,  slingers,  and  archers, 
of  which  his  right  wing  had  no  need,  being  covered  by 
the  river  Enipius.     Cxsar  likewise  divided  his  army  in- 
to three  bodies  under   three  commanders  ;  Domitius 
Calvinus  being  placed  in  the  centre,  and  Mark  Anthony 
on  the  left,  while  he  himself  led  on  the  right  wing,  which 
to  oppose  the  left  commanded  by  Pompey.     It  is 
remarkable  enough  that  Pompey  chose  to  put  himself 
at  the  head  of  those  troops  which  were  disciplined  and 
instructed  by  Cxsar,  an  incontestible  proof  how  much 
he  valued  them  above  any  of  the  rest  of  his  army.     Cae- 
>n  the  contrary,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
!i  legion,  that  had  owed  all  its  merit  and  fame  to 
his  own  training.     As  he  observed  the  enemy's  nume- 
rous cavalry  to  be  all  drawn  to  one  spot,  he  guessed  at 
Pompey's  intention  ;  to  obviate  which  he  made  a  draught 
of  bix  cohorts  from  his  rear  line,  and  forming  them  into 
parate  body,  concealed  them  behind  his  right  wing, 
with  instructions  not  to  throw  their  javelins  on  the  ap- 
proach of  Pompey's  horse,  as  was  customary  .but  to  keep 
them  in  uieir  hands,  and  push  them  directly  in  the  faces 
and  the  eyes  of  the  horsemen,  who  being  composed  of 
the  younger  part  of  the  Roman  nobility,  valued  them- 
selves much  upon  their  beauty,  and  dreaded  a  scar  in  the 
face  more  than  a  wound  in  the  body.     He,  lastly,  placed 
cavalry  he  had  so  as  to  cover  the  right  of  the  tenth 
legion,  ordering  his  third  line  not  to  march  till  they  had 
received  the  signal  from  him. 

As  the  armies  approached,  the   two  generals  went 
from  rank  to  rank  encouraging  their  men,  warming  their 


132  Tin;  iiLvroii\ 

hopes  and  lessening  their  apprehensi- 

bcntcd  to  his  men,  that  the  glorious  occasion  v, 

had  long  besought  him  to  grant  \vas  now  befo 

;ul  indeed,"  cried  he,  »'  wh 

ish  over  an  enemy  that  you  are  not  now  ; 
u  of?    Your  numbers,  your  vigour,  a  late  victory,  all  as- 

:re  a  speedy  and  an  easy  conquest  fcf  il- 
•id  broken  troops,  composed  of  men  v 

c,  and  imprest  with  terrors  of  a  recent  dc 
•    there  is  still  a  stronger  bulwark  for  our  \ 

c  superiority  of  our  strength, the  : 

\  oi:   ..re    < n gaged  in  the  d  ot 

"  your  country  ;  you  are  supported  1  i  fol- 

"  lowed  by  it  have  the  world  spt 

l<  toVs  of  your  conduct,  and  wishing  you  su^  the 

u  contrary,  he  whom  you  oppose  is  a  robber  and  op; 
"  sor  of  his  country,  and  almost 

»'   CO! 

"  of  hib  arms.     Shew  then,  on  th  .:  ar- 

u  dour  and  detestation   of  tyranny   ihi  late 

1  do  jusli 
oide,  went  among  liis  men  with 

h  he  was  so  much  admired  in  tin 
t  (1  on  nothing  so  strongly  to 
lent  and  unsuccessful  endeavours  for  peace. 
alked  with  terror  of  the  blood  he  was  going 
and  pleaded  only  the  necessity  him  to  it. — 

He  deplored  the  many  brave  men  that  were  to  fall  on 
both 

should  be  victorior.  :ed  his  speech 

with  looks  of  ardour  and  impatience  ;  win 
lie  gave  the  signal  to  bc^in.     The  wore! 

the  inviucible,  that  on  ( 

nusthe  victorious.     Tin  :dy  so  much  i] 

twecnbolh  ai :.  :;ivc  room  fo: 

Pompcy  ordered  his  men  to  receive  the  fir- 
without  moving  out  of  their  places,  expecting  the  i 
my's  ranks  to  be  put  into  disorder  by  tht  i  — 

soldiers  were  now  rushing  on  with  their  usual 
impetuosity,  when,  perceiving  the  enemy  motionless, 
they  all  stopt  short  as  if  by  general  consent,  and  h^ 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          t3;; 

;n  the  midst  of  their  career.  A  terrible  pause  ensued, 
in  which  both  armies  continued  to  gaze  upon  each  other 
with  mutual  terror  and  dreadful  serenity.  At  length, 
Caesar's  men  having  taken  breath  ran  furiously  upon  the 
enemy,  first  discharging  their  javelins,  and  then  drawing 
their  swords.  The  same  method  was  observed  by  Pom- 
pey's  troops,  who  as  vigorously  sustained  the  attack. 
His  cavalry  also  were  ordered  to  charge  at  the  very  on- 
set, which,  with  the  multitude  of  archers  and  slingers, 
soon  obliged  Caesar's  men  to  give  ground  ;  whereupon 
Caesar  immediately  ordered  the  six  cohorts  that  were 
placed  as  a  reinforcement  to  advance,  with  orders  to 
strike  at  the  enemy's  faces.  This  had  its  desired  effect ; 
the  cavalry,  that  were  but  just  now  Sure  of  victory,  re- 
reived  an  immediate  check ;  the  unusual  method  of  fight- 
ing pursued  by  the  cohorts,  their  aiming  entirely  at  the 
visages  of  the  assailants,  and  the  horrible  disfiguring 
wounds  they  made,  all  contributed  to  intimidate  them 
so  much,  that  instead  of  defending  their  persons,  their 
only  endeavour  was  to  save  their  faces.  A  total  route 
ensued  of  their  whole  body,  which  fled  in  great  disorder 
to  the  neighbouring  mountains,  while  the  archers  and 
slingers  who  were  thus  abandoned,  were  cut  to  pieces. 
Caesar  now  commanded  the  cohorts  to  pursue  their  suc- 
cess, and,  advancing,  charged  Pompey's  troops  upon 
the  flank  :  this  charge  the  enemy  withstood  for  some 
time  with  great  bravery,  till  he  brought  up  his  third 
line,  which  had  not  yet  engaged.  Pompey's  infantry, 
being  thus  doubly  attacked,  in  front  by  fresh  troops, 
and  in  rear  by  the  victorious  cohorts,  could  no  longer 
resist  but  fled  to  their  camp.  The  flight  began  among 
the  strangers,  though  Pompey's  right  wing  still  valiantly- 
maintained  their  ground.  Caesar,  however,  being  con- 
vinced that  the  victory  was  certain,  with  his  usual  cle- 
mency cried  out,  to  pursue  the  strangers,  but  to  spare 
the  Romans  :  upon  which  they  all  laid  down  their  arms 
and  received  quarter.  The  greatest  slaughter  was  among 
the  auxiliaries,  who  fled  on  all  quarters,  but  principal* 
ly  went  for  safety  to  the  camp.  The  battle  had  now 
lasted  from  the  break  of  day  till  noon,  the  weather  be- 
M 


134  THI.   III.vroRY  OF  Tl 

!y  hot ;  nevertheless  the  conquert 
rdour,  being  encouraged  by  the  example 
of  their  general,  who  thought  his  victory  not  con:, 
till  he  was  master  of  the  ci;  np.     Accordn 

marching  on  foot  at  their  head,  he  called  upon   ' 
to  follow  and  strike  the  decisive  bio 

ere  left  to  defend  the  T  some 

!e  a  formidable  resi^ 
her  of  T 
poi:  ing  could  resist  thi 

fled  to  the  mouni. 

t  so 

• 

' 

of  the  1; 

for  a  battle. 

:hly  furnished  might  have  been  able  to  en 
of  any  troops  but   Caesar's  ;  there 
;g  to  be  done,  and  he   would 
irsueany  other  object  than  thci; 

ircd  to  the  adjacent  mo<  Ion 

rs  to  join  him  in  the  pursuit,  in  order  to  oblige 

v  inclosin 
:i  at  the  foot  ct 

abandoned   a  post   which  was  not  tenable   for 
water,  and  endeavoured  to  reach  the  city  oi 

of  his  army  by  a  shorter  way,  an! 
:  their  retreat,  drawing  up  in  order  of  battle  be- 
i  them  and  the  city.     1 :  ihese  unhapny  fu- 

js  once  more  found  protection  from  a  mountain,  at 
Ihe  foot  of  which  a   rivulet  ran,  which  supplied  t! 
with  water.    Now  night  approaching,  Caesar's  men  v 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          135 

almost  spent,  and  ready  to  faint  with  their  incessant  toil 
since  morning,  yet  still  he  prevailed  upon  them  once 
more  to  renew  their  labours,  and  to  cut  off  the  rivulet 
that  supplied  the  defendants.  The  fugitives,  thus  de- 
prived of  all  hopes  of  succour  or  subsistance,  sent  depu- 
ties to  the  conqueror,  offering  to  surrender  at  discretion. 
During  this  interval  of  negociation,  a  few  senators  that 
were  among  them  took  the  advantage  of  the  night  to 
escape,  and  the  rest  next  morning  gave  up  their  arms, 
and  experienced  the  conqueror's  clemency.  In  fact,  he 
addressed  them  with  great  gentleness,  and  forbade  his 
soldiers  to  otter  them  any  violence,  or  to  take  any  thing 
them.  Thus  Caesar,  by  his  conduct,  gained  the 
most  complete  victory  that  had  ever  been  obtained  ;  and 
by  his  great  clemency  after  the  battle  seemed  to  have  de- 
served it.  His  loss  amounted  to  but  two  hundred  men, 
and  that  of  Pompey  to  fifteen  thousand,  as  well  Romans 
us  auxiliaries  :  twenty-four  thousand  men  surrender- 
ed themselves  prisoners  of  war,  and  the  greatest  part  of 
these  entered  into  Caesar's  army,  and  were  incorporated 
with  the  rest  of  his  forces.  As  to  the  senators  and  Ro- 
man knights  who  tell  into  his  hands,  he  generously  gave 
them  liberty  to  retire  wherever  they  thought  proper : 
und  as  for  the  letters  which  Pompey  had  received  from 
several  persons  who  wished  to  be  thought  neutral,  he 
burnt  them  all  without  reading  them,  as  Pompey  had 
done  upon  a  former  occasion.  Thus  having  performed 
nil  the  duties  of  a  general  and  a  statesman,  he  sent  for 
the  legions  which  had  passed  the  night  in  the  camp,  to 
relieve  those  which  had  accompanied  him  in  the  pur- 
suit, and  arrived  the  same  day  at  Larissa. 

As  for  Pompey,  who  had  formerly  shewn  such  instan- 
ces of  courage  and  conduct,  when  he  saw  his  cavalry 
routed,  on  which  he  had  placed  his  sole  dependence,  he 
absolutely  lost  his  reason.  Instead  of  thinking  how  to 
remedy  this  disorder  by  rallying  such  troops  as  fled,  or 
by  opposing  fresh  troops  to  stop  the  progress  of  the  con- 
querors, being  totally  amazed  by  his  first  blow,  he  re- 
turned to  the  camp,  and  in  his  lent  waited  the  issue  of 
an  event,  which  it  was  his  duty  to  direct,  not  to  follow  : 
e  he  remained  for  some  moments  without  speaking, 


THE  HISTORY  OF  T1 

till  being  told  that  the  camp  was  attacked,    "  \V.. 
he,  "  are  we  pursued  to  our  very  entrenchmei 
and  immediately  quitting;  his  armour  fo.  nore 

able  to  hiscircumsi 
to  Larissa  ;  from  when 
he  slackened 
veflcctior. 

of  Temp 

urru  .  the 

;;t  on  board  a  little 

burthen  which  svemed  preparing  to  sail,  in 

ed,  the  11. 

honi.  ->  due  to  his  former 

mouth  of  the  i : 


long   (Uttered  licrselt'  with   the   hop 

ed  by  tlu 
vrord 

hasten,  ii  i  but  one  > 

•*nd  even  that  not  his  o  ..  h  before 

')le  ;  slu   • 

aud  lay   a  considerable 

At  length  recovering;  h-  now 

10  lime  i  i  ran  quite  through  the 

to  the  Sf  ;>ey  embraced  her  without 

i  clime  supported  her  ii 
.irms  in  silent  d 

I  laving  taken  in  Cornelia,  he  now  continued  his  course 
10  the  south-cast,  and  stopping  no  Ion 

visions  at  the  ports  that 

nrrrd  in  his  passage.     He  ;i  to 

ipply  to  Ptolemy,  king  to  whose  father  Pom- 

had  been  a  considerable  benefactor.     PtoK  ; 
yet  a  minor,  had  not  the  government  in  his  < 
's,  but  he  and  his  kingdom  were  under  the  direction 
of  Photmus,  an  eunuch,  and  Theodorus,  a  master  of" 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  ROME.          137 

art  of  speaking.  These  advised  that  Pompey  should  be 
invited  on  shore  and  there  slain  ;  and  accordingly  Achil- 
las, the  commander  of  the  forces,  and  Septimius,  by 
birth  a  Roman,  and  who  had  formerly  been  a  centurion 
in  Pompey's  army,  were  appointed  to  carry  their  opin- 
ions into  execution.  Being  attended  by  three  or  four 
more>  they  went  into  a  little  bark,  and  rowed  off  from 
land  towards  Pompey's  ship  that  lay  about  a  mile  from 
the  shore.  Pompey,  after  having"  taken  leave  of  Cor- 
nelia, who  wept  at  his  departure,  and  having  repeated 
two  verses  of  Sophocles,  signifying,  that  he  who  trusts 
his  freedom  to  a  tyrant,  from  that  moment  becomes  a 
slave,  gave  his  hand  to  Achillas,  and  stept  into  the  bark, 
with  only  two  attendants  of  his  own.  They  had  now 
rowed  from  the  ship  a  good  way  ;  and,  as  during  that 
time  they  all  kept  profound  silence,  Pompey,  willing  to 
begin  the  discourse,  accosted  Septimius,  whose  face  he 
recollected.  "  Methinks,  friend,"  cried  he,  "you  and  I 
u  were  once  fellow  soldiers  together."  Septimius  gave 
only  a  nod  with  his  head,  without  uttering  a  word,  or 
instancing  the  least  civility.  Pompey,  therefore,  took 
out  a  paper,  on  which  he  had  minuted  a  speech  he  in- 
tended to  make  to  the  king,  and  began  reading  it.  In 
this  manner  they  approached  the  shore  ;  and  Cornelia, 
whose  concern  had  never  suffered  her  to  lose  sight  of  her 
husband,  began  to  conceive  hope,  when  she  perceived 
he  people  on  the  strand  crowding  down  along  the  coasts 
as  if  willing  to  receive  him  ;  but  her  hopes  were  soon 
destroyed  ;  for  that  instant,  as  Pompey  rose,  supporting 
himself  upon  his  freed  man's  arm,  Septimius  stabbed 
him  in  the  back,  and  was  instantly  seconded  by  Achillas. 
Pompey  perceiving  his  death  inevitable,  only  disposed 
himself  to  meet  it  with  decency,  and  covering  his  face 
with  his* robe,  without  speaking  a  word,  with  a  sigh  re- 
signed himself  to  his  fate.  At  this  horrid  sight  Corne- 
lia shrieked  so  loud  as  to  be  heard  to  the  shore  ;  but  the 
danger  she  herself  was  in,  did  not  allow  the  mariners 
time  to  look  on  ;  they  immediately  set  sail,  and  the  wind 
proving  favourable,  fortunately  they  escaped  the  pur- 
cult  of  the  Egyptian  gallies.  In  the  irean  time,  Pont™ 
M  2 


TOE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

pey's  murderer's  having  cut  off  his  head,  caused  it  to  be 

aimed,  the  better  to  preserve  its  features,  d< 
t  for  a  present  to  Crcsar.     The  body  \\asthrov 

lic  strand,  and  exposed  to  the 
•  uriosity  led  them  that  way.    Ho 
i,  Philip,  still  kept  i 

crscd,  he  washed  it  in  the  sea  ;  and  1  >und 

i:\terials  to  burn  it,  he  percci  \ 

he  composed  a  pile.     While  hi 

led  by   an  old  II  o- 

!:o  IKK)  serve*!  under  Pompt  uth. 

hoartthou,"  that  artroakii  ;m- 

Philip 

..s  one  of  his  freed  men,  "Alas," 

<  rmit  me  to  si  lour 

inonp^  all  the  miseries  of  my  exile  it  will  be  my 

cral  of  my  o!  and  touch  the  boi: 

cr  Homeprotl  lioth 

after  this 


.\itcrwards  placed  the  lolJ 

-carer  find  a  /c  • 


,6] 

C.i  celcbra,'  s  fortune) 

and  yet  his  abilities  seem  e 

He  possessed  many  shinii  '  the 

mixture  of  any  defect  but  th  .lion.     11. 

-  were  such  as  would  have  rendered  him  i^ 
c  head  of  any  army  he  commanded,  and  he  would 

.ny  republic  that  had  given  him  I : 
:  -  cd  a  most  complete  victor 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  139 

only  seetned  to  increase  his  activity,  and  inspire  him  with 
fresh  resolution  to  face  new  dangers.  He  resolved  there- 
fore to  pursue  his  last  advantage,  and  follow  Pompey  to 
whatever  country  he  should  retire  ;  convinced,  that 
during  his  life  he  might  gain  new  triumphs,  but  could 
never  enjoy  security. 

Accordingly,  losing  no  time,  he  set  sail  for  Egypt) 
and  arrived  at  Alexandria  with  about  four  thousand 
men  ;  a  tery  inconsiderable  force  to  keep  such  a  power- 
ful kingdom  under  subjection.  Upon  his  landing,  the 
first  accounts  he  received  were  of  Pompey's  miserable 
end  ;  and  soon  after  one  of  the  murderers  came  with 
his  head  and  ring,  as  a  most  grateful  present  to  the  con- 
queror. But  Caesar  had  too  much  humanity  to  be  pleas- 
ed with  such  an  horrid  spectacle  :  he  turned  away  from 
it  with  disgust ;  and,  after  a  short  pause,  gave  vent  to 
his  pity  in  a  flood  of  tears.  He  shortly  after  ordered  a 
magnificent  tomb  to  be  built  to  his  memory,  on  the  spot 
where  he  wa.a  murdered,  and  a  temple  near  the  place  to 
Nemesis,  who  was  the  goddess  that  punished  those  that 
were  cruel  to  men  in  adversity. 

It  should  seem  that  the  Egyptians  by  this  time  had 
some  hopes  of  breaking  off  all  alliance  with  ihe  Romans, 
which  they  considered,  as  in  fact  it  was,  but  a  specious 
subjection.  They  first  began  to  take  offence  at  Caesar's 
carrying  the  ensigns  of  Roman  power  before  him  as  he 
entered  the  city.  Photinus,  the  eunuch,  also  treated 
him  with  great  disrespect,  and  even  attempted  his  life  — 
Caesar,  however,  concealed  his  resentment  till  he  had  a 
force  sufficient  to  punish  his  treachery ;  and  sending 
privately  for  the  legions  which  had  been  formerly  en- 
rolled for  Pompey's  service,  as  being  the  nearest  to 
Egypt,  he  in  the  mean  time  pretended  to  repose  an  en- 
tire confidence  in  the  king's  minister,  making  great  en- 
tertainments, and  assisting  at  the  conferences  of  the 
philosophers,  who  were  in  great  numbers  at  Alexandria. 
However,  he  soon  changed  his  manner,  when  he  found 
himself  in  no  danger  from  the  minister's  attempts ; 
and  declared,  that,  as  being  Roman  consul,  it  was  his 
'luty  to  settle  t)re  succession  of  the  Egyptian  crown* 


U«  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

There  was  at  that  lime  two  pretenders  to  the  crown 
4;ypt ;  Ptolemy,  the  acknowledged  king,  and  the 
celebrated  Cleopatra,  his  sister,  to  whom,  by  the  custom 
of  the  country,  he  also  was  married;  and  who.  by  his 
father's  will,  shared  jointly  in  the  succession.  Not  being 
contented  with  a  bare  participation  of  power,  Cleopatra 
aimed  at  governing  alone  ;  but  being  opposed  in  her 
views  by  the  Roman  senate,  who  confirmed  her  bro- 
ther's title  to  the  crown,  she  was  banished  i 
Arsinoe,  her  younger  si  opes 

of  aspiring  to  the  kingdom,  and  sent  to  both  her  and  her 
brother  to  plead  their  cause  before  him.  Photinus,  the 
young  king's  guardian  disii  opo- 

sal,  and  backed  his  refusal  by  sendim 
ty  thousand  men  to  besiege  him  :csar 

bravely  repulsed  the  enemy  for  some  time  ;  but  finding 
the  city  of  too  great  extent  to  be  defended  by  so  si 
an  army  as  he  then  commanded,  he  retired  to  the  palace 
which  commanded  the  harbour,  where  IK  ;1  to 

make  his  stat:  alas,  who  commanded  ti 

«ckcd  him  the 

aim*  of  the  {:•  v  be- 

fore the  palace.     Caes  >o  well  knew  the 

re  of  those  ships  in  the  hands  of  an  enemy,  and 
therefore  burnt  them  all  in  spite  oft 
vent  him.    He  next  possest  himself  of  the  isle  c 
which  was  the  key  to  tl  -idrian  port ;  by  v 

he  was  enabled  to  receive  the  »u ,  :  from  all 

,d  in  this  he  determined  to  « 

the  united  force  of  all  the  E, 

In  the  mean  time,  Cleopatra  having  heard  of  the  pre- 
turn  in  her  favour,  resolved    to  depend  rather  on 
Caesar's  favour  for  gaining  the  government  than 
own  forces.     But  no  arts,  as  she  justl 
so  likely  to  influence  Caesar  as  the  charms  of  her  person, 
which,  though  not  faultless,  were  yet  extremely  s<. 
ing  >  now  in  the  bloom  of  her  yx>uth,  an 

cry  featnre  borrowed  grace  from  the  lively  turn  of  her 
temper.  To  the  most  enchanting  address  she  joined  the 
most  harmonious  voice.  \Vith  all  these  accomplish- 
ments fee  possessed  a  great  share  of  the  learning  c 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  i4l 

times,  and  could  give  audience  to  the  ambassadors  of 
seven  different  nations  without  an  interpreter.  The  dif- 
ficulty was  how  to  get  at  Caesar,  as  her  enemies  were  in 
possession  of  all  the  avenues  that  Led  to  the  palace,  tor 
this  purpose  she  went  on  board  a  small  vessel,  and  in  the 
evening  landed  near  the  palace,  where,  being  wrapt  up 
in  a  coverlet,  she  was  carried  by  one  Aspolodorus  into 
the  very  chamber  of  Caesar.  Her  address  at  first  pleas- 
'ed  him  ;  her  wit  and  understanding  still  fanned  the 
ilame  ;  but  her  caresses,  which  were  carried  beyond  the 
bounds  of  innocence,  entirely  brought  him  over  to  se- 

i  her  claims. 

While  Cleopatra  was  thus  employed  in  forwarding 
licr  own  views,  her  sister  Arsinoe  was  also  strenuously  en- 
;;a^ed  in  the  camp  in  pursuing  a  separate  interest.  She 
had  found  means,  by  the  assistance  of  one  Ganymede, 
her  confidant,  to  make  a  large  division  in  the  Egyptian 
army  in  her  favour ;  and  soon  after,  by  one  of  those 
sudden  revolutions  which  are  common  in  barbarian 
camps  to  this  day,  she  caused  Achillas  to  be  murdered, 
;nd  Ganymede  to  take  the  command  in  his  stead,  and 
to  carry  on  the  siege  with  greater  vigour  than  before. 
Ganymede's  principal  effort  was  by  letting  in  the  sea 
upon  those  canals  which  aupplied  the  palace  with  fresh 
water  j  but  this  inconvenience  Caesar  remedied  by  dig- 
ging a  greatnumber  of  wells.  His  next  endeavour  was 
to  prevent  the  junction  of  Caesar's  twenty-fourth  legion, 
which  he  twice  attempted  in  vain.  He  soon  after  made 
himself  master  of  a  bridge  which  joined  the  isle  of  Pha- 
ros to  the  continent,  from  which  post  Csesar  was  resolv- 
ed to  dislodge  him.  In  the  heat  of  the  action,  some 
mariners,  partly  through  curiosity,  and  partly  ambition, 
»nme  and  joined  the  combatants  ;  but,  being  seized  with 
a  panic,  instantly  fled,  and  spread  a  general  terror 
through  the  army.  All  Caesar's  endeavours  to  rally  his 
forces  were  in  vain,  the  confusion  was  past  remedy,  and 
numbers  were  drowned  or  put  to  the  sword  in  attempt- 
ing to  escape.  Now,  therefore,  seeing  the  irremediable 
disorder  of  his  troops,  he  retired  to  a  ship  in  order  to  get 
to  the  palace  that  was  just  opposite  ;  however  he  was 
no  sooner  on  board  than  great  crowds  entered  at  the 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THK 

e  time  with  him  ;  upon  which,  apprehensive  01 
chip's  sinking,  lie  jumped  into  the  sea,  and  s\ 
hundred  paces  to  the  fleet  that  lay  before  the  ] 
the  time  holding  his  own  commentaries  in  his  left  hand 

c  water,  and  his  coat  of  mail  in  his  te< 
The  efforts  t< 

pala 
out  < 

in  the  b. 

they  of  their  cust-  ion, 

pro IV  »  utmost  di 

the  presence  of  ih  prince  u- 

the  • 

the 

abilities    of  a  boy.     IHolei, 
was  set  at  libc  Made 

icmmed  in  for  son^ 

:rom 

this  iiuation  by  Mithrii' 

one  of  his  most  faithful  10  came  v- 

.  collecli; 

mcrousarmy  in  Syria,  marched  into  r 
of  Pelusiam,  rcpu. 
at  last,  joining  \\i 

•ightcrof  the  1  :  PtolcM 

tempting  to  escape  on 

is  drowned  by  the  s; 
Caesir  il  ie   mastc: 

fartlier  opposition.     He  therefore  appointed  Cleo[ 
with  her  j  brother  who  was  then  but  an    ii 

as  joint  >  .  according  to  the  intent  of  thci 

ther's  will,  and  drove  out  Ar&inoc  uith  Ganymede  into 
banishment. 

;ng  thus  j»iven  away  kingdoms,    he  now  for  a 
while  seemed  to  relax  from  the  \ 
due'  ith  the  charm1- 

quell  the  rcr. 
•  ••ed  himself  to  . 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  14S 

passing  whole  nights  in  feasting,  and  all  the  excesses  of 
high  wrought  luxury,  with  the  young  queen.  He  even 
resolved  to  attend  her  up  the  Nile  into  ^Ethiopia  ;  but 
the  brave  veterans,  who  had  long  followed  his  fortune, 
boldly  reprehended  his  conduct,  and  refused  to  be  part- 
ners in  so  infamous  an  expedition.  Thus,  at  length, 
roused  from  his  lethargy,  he  resolved  to  prefer  the  call 
of  ambition  to  that  of  love  ;  and  to  leave  Cleopatra,  (by 
whom  he  had  a  son  who  was  afterwards  called  Gesario) 
in  order  to  oppose  Pharnaces,  the  king  of  Bosphorus, 
v.  ho  had  made  some  inroads  upon  the  dominions  oi' 
ne. 

This  prince,  who  was  the  son  of  the  great  Mithri- 
•j  being  ambitious  of  recovering  his  father's  domin- 
ions, seized  upon  Armenia,  and  Colchis,  and  overcame 
who  had  been  sent  against  him.  Upon  Cae- 
sar's march  to  oppose  him,  Pharnaces,  who  was  as  much 
terrified  at  the  name  of  the  general  as  at  the  strength  of 
his  army,  laboured  by  all  the  arts  of  negociation,  to 
avert  the  impending  danger.  Caesar,  exasperated  at  his 
crimes  and  ingratitude,  at  first  dissembled  with  the  am- 
bassadors, and  using  all  expedition,  fell  upon  the  enemy 
unexpectedly,  and  in  a  few  hours  obtained  a  speedy  and 
complete  victory.  Pharnaces,  attempted  to  take  refuge 
in  his  capital,  and  was  slain  by  one  of  his  own  comman- 
ders. A  just  punishment  for  his  former  parricide.  But 
Caesar  conquered  him  with  so  much  ease,  that,  in  wil- 
ting to  a  friend  at  Rome,  he  exprest  the  rapidity  of  his 
victory  in  three  words  :  "  Vtni^  rzY/z',  vie?."  A  man  so 
accustomed  to  conquest  thought  a  slight  battle  scarce 
worth  a  longer  letter. 

Caesar  having  settled  affairs  in  this  part  of  the  empire, 
as  well  as  time  would  permit,  embarked  for  Italy,  where 
he  arrived  sooner  than  his  enemies  could  expect,  V-ut  not 
before  his  affairs  there  absolutely  required  his  presence. 
He  had  been  during  his  absence,  created  consul  for  five 
years,  dictator  tor  one  year  and  tribune  of  the  people 
for  life.  But  Anthony,  who  in  the  mean  time  govern- 
ed in  Rome  for  him,  had  filled  the  city  with  riot  and 
debauchery,  and  many  commotions  ensued,  which  no- 
thing but  the  arrival  of  Caesar,  so  opportunely  could  ap- 


tlSTORY  Qi 

pease.     However,  by  his  moderation  and  burn 
soon  restored  tranquility  to  the  city,  scar 
distinction  between  those  of  his  own  and  the  opp 
party.     Having  by  gentle  means  restored  his 
at  home  he  prepared  to  march  into  Africa,  wh« 
pey's  party   had    found  time   to  rally  un< 
Cato,  assisted  by  Juba  1- 
usual  diligence   landed  mall   pa 

while  the  rest  of  his  army  followed  him.     ^ 
to  a  battle  soon  after  received  a  com^  ual  over- 

xhrow,  with  little  or  no  loss  on  the  side  of  t! 
Juba  and  Petreus,  his  -ailed  each  oil 

spair.     Scipio,  attempting  to  escape  by  sea  ii 
fell  in  among  the  enen.  f  all 

the  generals  of  that  undone  v  the  on- 

ly one  tli. 

This  cxtraon.. 
.nor no  n. 

remains   of  that 

the  city   <  : 
to  defend.     Still,  b 

of  Roman  government,  he  had  formed  the 
zens  im<  c(i  a  res<  i 

ing  out  the  town.      But  the  enthusiasm  of  libci 
(Ung  amoni;  his  followers,  \\ 
force  men  to  be  free  wl. 
very.     He  now  the  reft 

Icmcncy 

at  last  victorious, 
his  friends,  he  rct'r 
ved  with  unus\ial  tciul 
IVici. 

himself  down  and  took 
mortality  of  the  soul  ;  and  havi.. 

happening  to  cast  his  eyes  to  t  '.he 

much  surprised  not  to  find  ,iich 

had  been  taken  away  by  his  son's  ordc 
at  supper.     Upon  this,  calling  one  of  his  doraesu< 


EMPIRE  OF  ROML.  145 

know  what  was  become  of  his  sword,  and  receiving  no 
answer,  he  resumed  his  studies  ;  but  some  time  after 
called  for  his  sword  again.  When  he  had  done  read- 
ing, and  pe'rceiving  nobody  obeyed  him  in  bringing  his 
sword,  he  called  his  domestics  one  after  the  other,  and 
with  a  peremptory  air  demanded  his  sword  once  more. 
His  son  came  in  soon  after,  and  with  tears  besought  him. 
in  the  most  humble  manner  to  change  his  resolution  ; 
but  receiving  a  stern  reprimand,  he  desisted  from  his 
persuasions.  His  sword  being  at  length  brought  him,  he 
seemed  satisfied  ;  and  cried  out,  "  Now  again  I  am  mas- 
er  of  myself."  He  then  took  up  the  book  again,  which 
he  read  twice  over,  and  fell  into  a  sound  sleep.  Upon 
awaking,  he  called  to  one  of  his  freed  men  to  know  if 
his  friends  were  embarked,  or  if  any  thing  yet  remained 
that  could  be  done  to  serve  them.  The  freed  man  as- 
suring him  that  all  was  quiet,  he  was  then  ordered  again 
to  leave  the  room  ;  and  Cato  was  no  sooner  alone,  than 
he  stabbed  himself  with  his  sword  through  the  breast, 
but  not  with  that  force  he  intended  ;  for  the  wound  not 
dispatching  him,  he  fell  upon  his  bed,  and  at  the  same 
ume  overturned  a  table  on  which  he  had  been  drawing 
some  geometrical  figures.  At  the  noise  he  made  in  his 
;all  his  servants  gave  a  shriek,  and  his  son  and  friends 
immediately  entered  the  room.  They  found  him  wel- 
tering in  his  blood,  and  his  bowels  pushed  out  through 
*he  wound.  The  physician  who  attended  his  family,  per- 
eiving  that  his  intestines  v,  ere  yet  untouched,  was  for 
replacing  them ;  but  when  Cato  had  recovered  his  senses, 
:tnd  understood  their  intention  to  preserve  his  life,  he 
pushed  the  physician  from  him,  and  with  a  fierce  reso- 
lution tore  out  his  bowels  and  expired. 

Upon  the  death  of  Cato,  the  war  in  Africa  being  com- 
(I,  Caesar  returned  in  triumph  to  Rome  ;  and,  as  if 
he  had  abridged  all  his  former  triumphs  only  to  increase 
the  splendour  of  this,  the  citizens  were  astonished  at  the 
magnificence  of  the  procession,  and  the  number  of  coun- 
he  had  subdued.     It  lasted  four  days  :  the  first  was 
for  Gaul,  the  second  for  Egypt,  the  third  for  his  victo- 
ries in  Asia,  and  the  fourth  for  that  over  Juba  in  Africa, 
N 


THE  HISTORY  Oi<  THE 

l  lib  .  -Idlers,  all  scarred  \v.-     -vounds,  and  i 

hid  up  for  life,  followed  their  triumph.-, 
cd  with  laurels,  and  conducted  him  t 
v  one  of  these 

ircd  and  fifty  pounds  of  our  money,  double  that  sum 
;  centurions,  and  four  times  as  much  t' 
<  1  his  boir 

one  of  v. :  .  (1  ten  bu 

poun 

•crling  of  ours.      He  after  tl.  the 

' 

arse  of  spectators  from  i 
people,  intoxicated  with  the  . 

•Jieir  freedom  too 
>enc  sec niccl  • 

iicr  of  hi: 

•c  devolved  for  life  all  tl 
It  must  be  owi,, 

•i^tcd  to  bi 

immediately  began  his 
cncoura;  '  iucd  the  \ 

catuve  t<  lators  and  the 

:;sed   rev. 

many  children,  and  took  the  most  pr  is  of 

rcpeopling  the  ci»; 
commolions. 

IIa\i:i'^  thus  rcs'j  . 
he  attain   found  himself  unc 
tin,  to  oppose  an  army  v 

under  the  l\vo  sons  of  Pom;  his 

former  general.     He  proceeded 
his  -  .  and  arri'. 

vet  departed  I: 
-  sons,  profitr.. 
iher's  example,  resolved  as  much  a5  possible  to  pn 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  147 

ihe  war ;  so  that  the  first  operations  of  the  two  armies 
were  spent  in  sieges,  and  fruitless  attempts  to  surprize 
each  other.  At  length  Caesar,  after  taking  many  cities 
from  the  enemy,  and  pursuing  Pompey  with  unwearied 
perseverance,  at  last  compelled  him  to  come  to  a  battle 
upon  the  plains  of  Munda.  Pompey  drew  up  his  men 
by  break  of  day  upon  the  declivity  of  an  hill  with  great 
exactness  and  order.  Cxsar  drew  up  his  men  likewise 
in  the  plain  below  ;  and,  after,  advancing  a  little  way 
from  his  trenches,  he  ordered  his  men  to  make  an  halt, 
expecting  the  enemy  to  come  down  from  the  hill.  This 
delay  made  Caesar's  soldiers  begin  to  murmur,  while 
Pompey's  with  full  vigour  poured  down  upon  them,  and 
a  dreadful  conflict  ensued.  The  first  shock  was  so  dread- 
ful, that  Cxsar's  men,  who  had  hitherto  been  used  to 
conquer,  now  began  to  waver.  Caesar  was  never  in  so 
much  danger  as  now  :  he  threw  himself  several  times 
into  the  very  throng  of  battle.  "  What,"  cried  he, 
"  are  you  going  to  give  up  your  general,  who  is  grown 
*'  grey  in  fighting  at  your  head,  to  a  parcel  of  boys?'* 
Upon  this  his  tenth  legion  exerted  themselves  with  more 
than  former  bravery  ;  and  a  party  of  horse  being  de- 
tached by  Labienus  from  the  camp  in  the  pursuit  of  a 
body  of  Numidian  cavalry,  Cxsar  cried  aloud  that  they 
were  flying.  This  cry  instantly  spread  itself  through 
both  armies,  exciting  the  one  as  much  as  it  depressed  the 
other.  Now,  therefore,  the  tenth  legion  pressed  for- 
ward, and  a  total  route  soon  ensued.  Thirty  thousand 
men  were  killed  on  Pompey's  side,  among  whom  was 
Labienus,  whom  Csesar  ordered  to  be  buried  with  the 
funeral  honours  of  a  general  officer.  Cneius  Pompey 
escaped  with  a  few  horsemen  to  the  sea  side,  but  finding 
his  passage  intercepted  by  Caesar's  lieutenant,  he  was 
obliged  to  seek  for  a  retreat  in  an  obscure  cavern.  Ho 
was  quickly  discovered  by  some  of  Caesar's  troops,  who 
presently  cut  off  his  head,  and  brought  it  to  the  con- 
queror. His  brother  Sextus,  however,  concealed  him- 
self so  well,  that  he  escaped  all  pursuit,  and  afterwards 
became  very  noted  and  formidable  for  his  piracies  to  the 
people  of  Rome.  . 


TH 

Caesar,  by  his  last  blow,  subdued  all  his  ai 

:id  the  rest  of  his  1 
•  tage  of  the  state.     He  adorned  the  city  with  m. 

colonies  to  both  cities  ;  he  undertook  to  le\ 

:i  the  Pontinc 

Ro  Lo  cut  through  the  i^- 

poi  id  that  could  IK 

the  ;  hut  the 

heo 

.  put  to  a 
>ld  pourc 

. 

oft:  . 

the  irnu: 

to  return  to  }• 

usy  of  a  few  indivh  an  end  to 

Has.: 

from  the  senate  accumulated  honoui  v 
moured  that  he  intended  to  make    himv 
though  in  fact  he  was  possessed  of  the  p^  peo- 

ple, who  had  an  utter 
bear  his  aasvu. 
cd  to  assume  that  empt 
main  a  secret ;  bu 

nes  of  his  conduci 
deuce  in  the  innocence 
ed  by  those  about  1  i 
who  envied  his  po 

.cnsion  of  -  ume  to  1 

a  whom  he  had   for  some  tinu 
lestconfii 

-aying,  "  Can  you  t 

And  being  01.' 
[ 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  149 

easiest,  he  replied,  that  which  was  most  sudden  and 
least  foreseen.  But  to  convince  the  world  how  little  he 
had  to  apprehend  from  his  enemies,  he  disbanded  his 
company  of  Spanish  guards,  which  facilitated  the  enter- 
prize  against  his  life. 

A  deep  conspiracy  was  therefore  laid  against  him., 
composed  of  no  less  than  sixty  senators.  They  were 
still  the  more  formidable,  as  the  generality  of  them 
were  of  his  own  party,  who,  having  been  raised  above 
other  citizens,  felt  more  strongly  the  weight  of  a  single 
superior.  At  the  head  of  this  conspiracy  were  Brutus, 
whose  life  Caesar  had  spared  after  the  battle  of  Pharsalia, 
and  Cassius,  who  was  pardoned  soon  after,  both  praetors 
for  the  present  year.  Brutus  made  it  his  chief  glory  to 
have  been  descended  from  that  Brutus  who  first  gave 
liberty  to  Rome.  The  passion  for  freedom  seemed  to 
have  been  transmitted  with  the  blood  of  his  ancestors 
down  to  him.  But  though  he  detested  tyranny,  yet  he 
could  not  forbear  loving  the  tyrant,  from  whom  he  had 
received  the  most  signal  benefits. 

The  conspirators,  to  give  a  colour  of  justice  to  their 
proceedings,  remitted  the  execution  of  their  design  to 
the  ides  of  March,  the  day  on  which  Caesar  was  to  be 
offered  the  crown.  The  augurs  had  foretold  that  this 
day  would  be  fatal  to  him  ;  and  the  night  preceding,  he 
heard  his  wife  Culpurnia  lamenting  in  her  sleep;  and 
being  awakened,  she  confessed  to  him  that  she  dreamt  of 
his  being  assassinated  in  her  arms.  These  omens  in  some 
measure  began  to  change  his  intentions  of  going  to  the 
senate,  as  he  had  resolved,  that  day  ;  but  one  of  the  con- 
spirators coming  in  prevailed  upon  him  to  keep  his  re- 
solution, telling  him  of  the  reproach  that  would  attend 
his  staying  at  home  till  his  wife  had  lucky  dreams,  and 
)f  the  preparations  that  were  made  for  kis  appearance. 
As  he  went  along  to  the  senate,  a  slave,  who  hastened  to 
him  with  information  of  the  conspiracy,  attempted  to 
come  near  him,  but  could  not  for  the  crowd.  Artemi- 
dorus,  a  Greek  philosopher,  who  had  discovered  the 
whole  plot,  delivered  him  a  memorial  containing  the 
heads  of  the  information  ;  but  Caesar  gave  it,  with  other 
N  2. 


150  THE  HISTORY  OF  Tl 

papers,  to  one  of  his  secretaries  without  reading,  as  was 
usual  in  things  of  this  nature.     Being  at  length  entered 

te  house,  where  the  conspirators  were  prep 
to  receive  him,  he  met  one  Spuiina,  an  av 
foretold  r;  to- whom  he  said,  sn  . 

"  Spuiinu  the  re- 

plied tht  'Ait  they  are  not  yi  oon 

as  he   had  tu .. 
him,  under  pretence  of  saluting  him  : 

one  of  them,  apj> 
pretending  to  sue  fur  hi 

banished  by  his  order.     All  the  'ors  seconded 

him  wit!:  .iestness;  sue 

with   still  greater  sub;  torn 

This  was  t he- 
stabbed  I 
instantly  tun;' 

.dcd  him   in  the  a: 
tors  were  nov. 

received  a  secon<  n  the 

breast.  vshilc<  winded  him  in  the  :.. 

defended    hir  igour,   n. 

them,  and  th 

who,  cor 
t-truck  hi 

.tr  tho\!glit  no  more  oft!  hut  look- 

.  acn  covering  his  hi 
before  hi; 

• 

liree  and  twenty  woum: 
ly  suppose 

,T  Czsar  was  killed  in  the  : 

'  ut  fourtef : 

.cjuest  of  the  world.     If> 

,  we  shall  be  equally  at  a  loss  whether  most  toadi 
abilities  or  his  wenderful  fortune.     T- 
.it  from  the  beginning  he  planned  the  i 
>untry,is  doing  no  great  credit  u- 
enetrauon;  as  a  thousand  obstat l 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  151 

way,  which  fortune,  rather  than  conduct,  was  to  sur- 
mount. No  man,  therefore,  of  his  sagacity,  would  have 
begun  a  scheme  in  which  the  chances  of  succeeding  were 
so  many  against  him  :  it  is  most  probable,  that,  like  all 
very  successful  men,  he  only  made  the  best  of  every  oc- 
currence ;  and  his  ambition  rising  with  his  good  fortune, 
from  at  first  being  contented  with  humbler  aims,  he  at 
last  began  to  think  of  governing  the  world,  when  he 
found  scarce  any  obstacle  to  oppose  his  designs.  Such 
is  the  disposition  of  man,  whose  cravings  after  power 
are  always  most  insatiable  when  he  enjoys  the  greatest 
share. 

As  soon  as  the  conspirators  had  dispatched  Caesar, 
they  all  retired  to  the  capital,  and  guarded  its  accesses 
by  a  body  of  gladiators  which  Brutus  had  in  pay. 

The  friends  of  the  late  dictator  now  began  to  find 
lhat  this  was  the  lime  for  coming  into  greater  power 
than  before,  and  for  satisfying  their  ambition  under  the 
veil  of  promoting  justice.  Of  this  number  was  Antho- 
ny, whom  we  have  already  seen  acting  as  a  lieutenant 
under  Caesar,  and  governing  Rome  in  his  absence.  He 
was  a  man  of  moderate  abilities  and  excessive  vices,  am- 
bitious of  power  only,  because  it  gave  his  pleasures  a 
wider  range  to  riot  in,  but  skilled  in  war,  to  which  he 
had  been  trained  from  his  youth.  He  was  consul  for 
this  year,  and  resolved,  with  Lepidus,  who  was  fond  of 
commotions  like  himself,  to  seize  this  opportunity  of 
gaining  that  power  which  Caesar  had  died  for  usurping. 
Lepidus,  therefore  took  possession  of  the  Forum  with  a 
band  of  soldiers  at  his  devotion  ;  and  Anthony,  being- 
consul,  was  permitted  to  command  them.  Their  first 
step  was  to  possess  themselves  of  all  Caesar's  papers  and 
money,  and  the  next  to  convene  the  senate.  Never  had 
this  august  assembly  been  convened  upon  so  delicate  an 
occasion,  as  it  was  to  determine  whether  Caesar  had  been 
a  legal  magistrate  or  a  tyrannical  usurper  ;  and  whether 
those  who  killed  him  merited  rewards  or  punishments. 
There  were  many  of  these  who  had  received  all  their 
promotions  from  Caesar,  and  had  acquired  large  fortunes 
in  consequence  of  his  appointments  :  to  vote  him  an 
•isurper,  therefor*,  would  be  to  endanger  their  property  ; 


\5l  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

anil  yet  to  vote  him  innocent  might  endanger  the  31 
In  this  dilemma  they  seemed  willing  to  reconcile 
tremes ;  wherefore  they  approved  all  the  acts  oi  Caesar, 
-ranted  a  general  pardon  to  all  the  conspirators. 
This  decree  v  .r  from  i;-: 

faction,  as  it  granted  security  to  a  number  of  men  who 
were  the  avowed  enemies  of  tyranny,  and  w!. 
be  foremost  in  oppo  »lute 

power.  >re  the  senate  had  :  sar's 

acts  without  distinction,  hi 

of  making  him  rule  when  dead  us  imperio1  had 

done  when  living.     Being, : 

books  of  accounts,  he  s 

as  to  make  him  insert  v 
By  these  means  great  sums  of  moi 
would  nc  \ 

the  people  :  and  every  man  wh- 

signs  against  the  government  was  there  sure  of  finding 
••jing  in   tl  .ony 

demanded  of  the  v 

should  be  performed,  which  I  not  dect 

icy  had  never  declared  him 

,  the  body  was  brought  forth  into  the 
the  utmost  solemnity  ; 

A-ith  these  last  duties  of  friendship  be; 
upon  the  passions  of  the  people  by  the  p 
motives  of  private  interest.     He  first  : 

:uch  he  had  let; 

his  heir,  permitting  him  to  take  the  name 
three  parts  o:  ate  fortune  ;  and  Kruti 

inherit  in  Cvisc  of  his  death.     To  the  Roman  people  were 
left  the  gardens  which  he  had  on  the  other  side  of 
Tyber  ;  and  t  .-en  in  particul 

three  thousand  sesterces  ;  and  unfolding  Caesar's  bloody 
robe  iu  sight  of  the  multitude*  he  took  care  they  si, 
observe  the  number  of  stubs  in  it ;  then  displayed  an  im- 

//hich  to  them  appeared  the  body  o 

ith  wounds.     They  could  no  longer 

„•  nation,  but  unanimously  cried  out  for  revenge,  and 
ran  wwh  ftaming  brands  from  the  pile  to  act  fire  to  tfte 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  153 

pirators'  houses.  In  this  rage  of  resentment  meeting 
with  one  Cinna,  whom  they  mistook  for  another  of  the 
same  name,  who  was  in  the  conspiracy,  they  tore  him  in 
pieces.  The  conspirators  themselves,  however,  being 
well  guarded,  repulsed  the  multitude  with  no  great  trou- 

,  but  perceiving  the  rage  of  the  people,  they  thought 
it  soon  after  safest  to  retire  from  the  city. 

In  the  mean  time,  Anthony,  who  had  excited  this 
fhmc,  resolved  to  make  the  best  of  the  occasion.  But 
an  obstacle  to  his  ambition  seemed  to  arise  from  a  quar- 
ter on  which  he  least  expected  it,  namely,  from  Octavi- 
us  Cjesar,  afterwards  called  Augustus,  who  was  the  grand 
nephew  and  adopted  son  of  Caesar.  A  third  campetitor 

for  power  appeared  in  Lepidus,  a  man  of  some  au- 

ity  and  great  riches  at  Rome.  At  first  the  ambition 
of  these  three  seemed  to  threaten  fatal  consequences  to 

.  other,  but,  uniting  soon  after  in  the  common  cause, 
they  resolved  to  revenge  the  death  of  Caesar,  and  divid- 

all  power  among  themselves,  formed  what  is  called 
•lie  second  Triumvirate. 

The  meeting  of  these  three  usurpers  of  their  country's 
freedom  was  near  Mutina,  upon  a  little  island  of  the  ri- 
ver Panarus.  Their  mutual  suspicions  were  the  cause  of 
their  meeting  in  a  place  where  they  could  not  fear  any 
treachery  ;  for,  even  in  their  union  they  could  not  divest 
themselves  of  mutual  difhdence.  Lepidus  first  entered, 
and  finding  all  things  safe,  made  the  signal  for  the  other 
:wo  to  approach.  They  embraced  each  other  upon 
their  first  meeting  ;  and  Augustus  began  the  conference 
by  thanking  Anthony  for  his  zeal  in  putting  Decimus 
Brutus  to  death,  who,  being  abandoned  by  his  army, 

taken  as  he  was  designing  to  escape  into  Macedo- 
nia, and  beheaded  by  Anthony's  command.  They  then, 
entered  upon  the  business  that  lay  before  them  without 

retrospection  of  the  past.     Their  conference  lasted 

irec  days  ;  and  in  this  period  they  fixed  a  division 
of  government,  and  determined  upon  the  fate  ofthou- 

s.  The  result  of  which  was  that  the  supreme  au- 
thority should  be  lodged  in  their  hands,  under  the  title 
of  the  Triumvirate,  for  the  space  of  five  years ;  that  An- 
thony should  have  Gaul  j  Lepidus,  Spain ;  and  Augus- 


THE  HISTORY  OF 

:<:a,  and  the  Mediterranean  islands.     As  fcr 
ml  the  eastern  provinces,  they  were   to  remain  in 
common  until  the!  .  enemy  was  entirely  subdu- 

•icles  of  union,  it  was  ag: 
cir  enemies  should  be  destroyed,  of  v  : 
presented  a  list.     In  these  v  prised  nc: 

enemies  but  the  friends  of  the   i 
partizans  of  the  one  were  often  found  among  the  0] 
sers  of  the  other.     Thus  Lepif! 

oance  of! 
milted  the  proscription  of  his  uncle  L 

short!  ihony's  c 

In  the  m 
of  the  conspi; 
quit 

•  :uclents  . 

arm) 

the  1 
of  tv 

•tos» 

joi"1  L>le  force 

'id  to 

reunite  the  t\\  hem 

there  ha«i 

cd  ti.  ,  .nd  then.  the 

vith  all  the  neces- 
c!  in  a  condition  to  sup- 
7>ire  of  the  world  depei 
onti  ire. 

of  his  country,  and  not  his  own. 
is  in  this  flouri  x>  of  their  affairs  th 

spirators  had  formed  a  resolution  of  g 
o  had  made  great  preparatv- 
their  opponer  ever,  they  were 

-nirpose,  by  an  inlyrmation  thai 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  155 

thony  were  now  upon  their  march  with  forty  legions  to 
oppose  them.     Brutus  therefore  moved  to  have  their  ar- 
my pass  over  into  Greece  and  Macedonia,  and  there 
meet  the  enemy  ;  but  Cassius  so  far  prevailed  as  to  have 
the  Rhodians  and  Lycians  first  reduced,  who  had  re- 
fused their  usual  contributions.    This  expedition  was  im- 
mediately put  in  execution,  and  extraordinary  contribu- 
tions were  raised  by  that  means,  the  Rhodians  having 
scarce  any  thing  left  them  but  their  lives.     The  Lyci- 
ans suffered  still  more  severely  ;  for,  having  shut  them- 
selves up  in  the  city  of  Xanthius,  they  defended  the  place 
against  Brutus  with  such  fury,  that  neither  his  arts  nor 
entreaties  could  prevail  upon  them  to  surrender.     At 
length  the  town  being  set  on  fire  by  their  attempting  to 
burn  the  works  of  the  Romans,  Brutus,  instead  of  laying 
hold  of  this  opportunity  to  storm  the  place,  made  every 
effort  to  preserve  it,  entreating  his  soldiers  to  try  all 
means  of  extinguishing  the  fire ;  but  the  desperate  phren- 
zy  of  the  citizens  was  not  to  be  mollified.     Far  from 
thinking  themselves  obliged  to  their  generous  enemy 
for  the  efforts  which  were  made  to  save  them,  they  re- 
iolved  to  perish  in  the  flumes.     Wherefore  instead  of 
nguishing,they  didall  in  their  power  to  augment  the 
fire,  by  throwing  in  wood,  dry   reeds,  and  all  kinds  of 
fuel.     Nothing  could  exceed  the  distress  of  Brutus  upon 
ng  the  townsmen  thus  resolutely  bent  on  destroying 
themselves  ;    rode  about  the  fortifications,  stretching 
out  his  hands  to  the  Xanthians,  and  conjuring  them  to 
have  pity  on  themselves  and  their  city  ;    but,  insensible 
to  his  expostulations,  they  rushed  into  the  flames   with 
desperate  obstinacy,  and  the  whole  soon  became  an  heap 
of  undistinguishable  ruin.  At  this  horrid  spectacle  Bru- 
tus melted  into  tears,  offering  a  reward  to  every  soldier 
who  should  bring  him  a  Lycinian  alive.      The  number 
of  those  whom  it  was  possible  to  save  from   their   own 
fury  amounted  to  no  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Brutus  and  Cassius  met  once  more  at  Sardis,  where, 
after  the  usual  ceremonies  were  passed  between  them, 
y  resolved  to  have  a   private   conference    together. 
cy  shut  themselves  up  therefore  in  the  first  conve- 
nient house,with  express  orders  to  their  servants  to  give 


FH1  THE 

no  admission.     Brutus  began,  by  rcprimandin 
for  having  disposed  of  omces,  winch  shou! 

nd  for  h.-  d   the  tri 

ry   states.     Cassius   retorted  the  ini; 
with  the  more  bitterness,  as  he  knew  the 
groundless.     The  MI,    till  fi 

iking  they 

Stan  -ie  door,  overheard  th 

menceofthci  .aid  began  to 

sequences,  til!  -allied  hi 

;  al  boldnc  -.new  no  rest: 

aimed  tlu 

to  forego 

of  gr  ;cs,  but  oi 

to  pleasure  in  private  company  ;  and,  upon  t! 
of  morals  not  cere.     But  tin 

- 

s  in  the  :ice, 

ight  coming  on, 

icndsUK-.  :  t. where: 

ie,  took  place    of 
and  softened  the  severity  u' 
home,  it  was  that  Brutus,  as  Pluta; 

ctre  in  his  tent.     He  naturally  slept  : 
,c  had  increar  .  te  of  wa' 

He  never  al 

in  the  day  tin.  -  romnvj: 

.  j  much  of  the  night  to  slee 
renew  the  natural  functions.  Buter; 
opprcst  with  ;us  cares,  he  only  lort 

time 
mid] 

.1  of  the  :  e  whole  camp 

4uiet,  that  Brutus  - 
ing  by  u  lamp  lha: 

thought  he  heard  a  noi^e,  as  if  some; 
looking  towards  the  door  he  perceived  ii  open.     A 
c  figure)  with  a  frightful  aspect,  sloe; 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  157 

and  continued  to  gaze  upon  him  with  silent  severity.  At 
last  Brutus  had  courage  to  speak  to  it.  "  Art  thou  a 
"  daemon,  or  a  mortal  man?  and  why  comest  thou  to 
me  ?"  "  Brutus,"  replied  the  phantom,  "  I  am  thy 
*'  evil  genius :  thou  shalt  meet  me  again  at  Philippi." 
"  Well  then,"  answered  Brutus,  without  being  discom- 
posed, "  we  shall  meet  again."  Upon  which  the  phan- 
tom vanished,  and  Brutus  calling  to  his  servants,  asked 
if  they  had  seen  any  thing?  to  which  replying  in  the 
negative,  he  again  resumed  his  studies.  But  as  he  was 

k  with  so  strange  an  occurrence,  he  mentioned  it 

next  day  to  Cassius,  who>  being  an  Epicurean,  as 
•iribed  it  to  the  effect  of  an  imagination  too  much  exer- 
cised by  vigilance  and  anxiety.     Brutus  appeared  satis- 
•led  with  this  solution  of  his  late  terrors  ;  and  as  Aritho- 

iid  Augustus  were  now  advancing  into  Macedonia, 
he  and  his  colleague  passed  over  into  Thrace,  and  drew 
near  to  the  city  of  Philippi,  where  the  forces  of  the  tri- 
umviri were  posted  to  receive  them. 

All  mankind  now  began  to  regard  the  approaching 
armies  with  terror  and  suspense.  The  empire  of  the 
world  depended  upon  the  fete  of  a  battle  ;  as,  from  vic- 
tory on  the  one  side,  they  had  to  expect  freedom  ;  but 
from  the  other,  a  sovereign  with  absolute  command. 
Brutus  was  the  only  man  that  looked  upon  these  great 
events  before  him,  with  calmness  and  tranquility.  In- 
diflferent  as  to  success,  and  satisfied  with  having  done 
his  duty,  be  said  to  one  of  his  friends,  "  If  I  gain  the 

.ctory,  I  shall  restore  liberty  to  my  country  :  if  I 
''  lose  it,  by  dying,  I  shall  be  delivered  from  slavery 
"  myself;  nny  condition  is  fixed,  and  I  run  no  hazards." 
The  republican  army  consisted  of  fourscore  thousand 
foot,  and  twenty  thousand  horse.  The  army  of  the 
triumviri  amounted  to  an  hundred  thousand  foot,  and 
thirteen  thousand  horse.  Thus  complete  on  both  sides, 
they  met  and  encamped  near  each  oilier  upon  the  plains 
of  Philippi,  a  city  upon  the  confines  of  Thrace.  This 
city  was  situated  upon  a  mountain,  towards  the  west  of 
which  a  plain  stretched  itself,  by  a  gentle  declivity,  al- 

t  fifteen  leagues  to  the  banks  of  the  river  Strymon. 
O 


15S  TliL  liiSTOHV  OF  Til 

In  tliis  plain,  about  two  miles  from  the  town,  Were 
little  hills  at  about  a  mile  distance  fro:  'her,  de- 

fended on  one  side  by  mountains,  on  the  other  by  a 
ma;  municatcd  with  the  sea.     It  was  up- 

two  hills  that  Brutus  and  I  cd  their 

.;>s  :  Brutus  on  the  hill  towards  the  nor:  .son 

towards  the  south  ;  and  in  the  intern 

•cd  them  they  rast  up  1 
,i  one  bill  to  th  Thus  they  kc; 

.  ;i  the  two  can 
••'.her.      In  this  com: 
they  thought  propt 

:it  to  their  advantage  to  eng: 
.  which  furnished  t! 

cd  them  for  a 

ic  as  so<  . 

men  fron. 

^vro- 

:ng  to  the 
.ion  of  postpci 

;iy  had  for  it  ;  and  (Jassius,  who  n 
resolved  toh;. 

.tus  began  to  - 

>me  of  his  officers,  so  that  he  used  all  1m  i 
s  to  chaii 

•utan  end  to  t! 

r  I  fall  or  conquer 

iiony's  soldier; 

nough  the  ma- 

:  a  comm  . 
the  island  of  'i 

resolved  at  length  to  come  to  a  gen 
This,  however,  was  contrary  to  the  advici 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  159 

declared  that  he  was  forced,  as  Pompey  had  for- 
merly been,  to  expose  the  liberty  of  Rome  to  the  hazard 
of  a  battle.  The  ensuing  morning,  the  two  generals 
e  the  signal  for  engaging,  and  conferred  together  a 
little  while  before  the  battle  began.  Cassius  desired  to 
know  how  Brutus  intended  to  act  in  case  they  were  un- 
cessful  ;  to  which  the  other  replied,  "  That  he  had 
rmerlyin  his  writings  condemned  the  death  ofCato, 
id  maintained,  that  avoiding  calamities  by  suicide  was 
*•  an  insolent  attempt  against  Heaven  that  sent  them  ; 
•'  but  he  had  now  altered  his  opinions,  and,  having  giv- 
•'  on  up  his  life  to  his  country,  he  thought  he  had  a  right 
'*  to  his  own  way  of  ending  it ;  wherelfere,  he  was  re- 
•;  solved  to  change  a  miserable  being  here,  for  a  better 
*'  hereafter,  if  fortune  proved  against  him."  "  Well 
'*•  said,  my  friend,"  cried  Cassius,  embracing  him,  "now 
u  we  may  venture  to  face  the  enemy  ;  for  either  we  shall 
u  be  conquerors  ourselves,  or  we  shall  have  no  cause  to 
"  fear  those  who  are  so."  Augustus  being  sick,  the  for* 
cesof  the  triumviri  were  commanded  alone  by  Anthony, 
who  began  the  engagement  by  a  vigorous  attack  upon 
the  lines  of  Cassius.  Brutus,  on  the  other  side,  made  a 
dreadful  irruption  on  the  army  of  Augustus,  and  drove 
forward  with  so  much  intrepidity,  that  he  broke  them, 
upon  the  very  first  charge.  Upon  this  he  penetrated  as 
far  as  the  camp,  and  cutting  in  pieces  those  who  were 
left  for  its  defence,  his  troops  immediately  began  to  plun- 
der ;  but  in  the  mean  time  the  lines  of  Cassius  were 
forced,  and  his  cavalry  put  to  flight.  There  was  no  ef- 
fort that  this  unfortunate  general  did  not  use  to  make 
his  infantry  stand,  stopping  those  that  fled,  and  seizing 
himself  the  colours  to  rally  them.  But  his  own  valour 
alone  was  not  sufficient  to  inspire  his  timorous  army  : 
wherefore,  despairing  of  success,  he  caused  himself  to 
be  slain  by  one  of  his  freed  men.  Brutus  was  soon  in- 
formed of  the  defeat  of  Cassius,  and  soon  after  of  his 
death  as  he  drew  near  the  camp.  He  seemed  scarce 
able  to  restrain  the  excess  of  his  grief  for  a  man  whom 

'.led  the  last  of  the  Romans. 

But  his  first  care,  when  he  became  the  sole  general,  was 
We  the  dispersed  troops  of  Cussius*  and  animate- 


160  1HE  HISTORY  OF  Tii 

them  with  fresh  hopes  of  victory.     As  they  had  los 
they  possessed  by  the  plundering  of  their  camp,  he  pro- 
ed  them  two  thous .  h  man  to  muk< 

ir  losses.     This  once  more  i:  em  with 

>ur;  they  admired  the   liberality  of  their 
and  with  loud  bhouts  proclaimed  his  form* 
Still,  however,  he  had  not  confidence  sur 
the  ,  who  offered  him  battle  thr 

want  of  provisions,  their  fit< 

.irmy»  v. •':.  cw  every 

their  sm  ,t  to  thci: 

uhout  of- 

:  • 

lost  much  of  h 

. 

own  the  i 
of  his  it:1  'eel   by  1 

laughter.     But  the  troops  \vhicli 
longed  U  ommunicatiag  their  terror  t 

Bunded  by  the  , 

a  long  ti::  •  ne  son  of' 

iigh1.:  the  bror 

that  1  to  necc- 

In  the  nu  ihe  two  triunv, 

icti-y .  1  by  no  means  to  si 

v.  hole  body  of  the  i 

ione,  and  l'» 

uciliusf1  his  ft 
i  to  effect  his  gene1 
i  body  ofThracian  horse  closely   j 
just  upon  the  point  of  taking  him. 
boldly  th:  ^  i"  their  way,  telling  them  that  he 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  ICi 

was  Brutus.  The  Thracians  overjoyed  with  so  great  a 
prize,  immediately  dispatched  some  of  their  companions 
with  the  news  of  their  success  to  the  army .  Upon  .which 
the  ardour  of  the  pursuit  now  abating,  Anthony  marched 
out  to  meet  his  prisoner,  and  to  hasten  his  death,  or  in- 
sult his  misfortunes.  He  was  followed  by  a  great  num- 
ber of  officers  and  soldiers,  some  silently  deploring  the 
fate  of  s?  virtuous  a  man  ;  others  reproaching  that  mean 
desire  <ff  life  for  which  he  consented  to  undergo  captivi- 
ty. Anthony  now  seeing  the  Thracians  approach,  be- 
gan to  prepare  himself  for  the  interview  ;  but  the  faithful 
Lucilius,  advancing  with  a  cheerful  air,  "  It  is  not  Bru- 
"  tus,"  said  he,  "  that  is  taken  ;  fortune  has  not  yet  had 
"  the  power  of  committing  so  great  an  outrage  upon  vir- 
"  tue.  As  for  my  life,  it  is  well  spent  in  preserving  his 
;t  honour  ;  take  it,  for  I  have  deceived  you."  Anthony, 
struck  with  so  much  fidelity,  pardoned  him  upon  the 
spot ;  and  from  that  time  forward,  loaded  him  with  ben- 
efits, and  honoured  him  with  his  friendship. 

In  the  mean  time  Brutus,  with  a  small  number  of 
friends,  passed  over  a  rivulet,  and  night  coming  on,  sat 
down  under  a  rock  which  concealed  him  from  the  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy.  After  taking  breath  for  a  little  time, 
and  casting  his  eyes  up  to  heaven,  he  repeated  a  line. 
from  Euripides,  containing  a  wish  to  the  gods,  "  that 
"  guilt  should  not  pass  in  this  life  without  punishment." 
To  which  he  added  another  from  the  same  poet,  "  O  Vir- 
"  tue  !  thou  empty  name,  I  have  worshipped  thee  as  a 
"  real  god,  but  thou  art  only  the  slave  of  fortune."  He 
then  called  to  mind,  with  great  tenderness,  those  whom 
he  had  seen  perish  in  battle,  and  sent  out  one  Statilius 
to  give  him  some  information  of  those  that  remained  ; 
but  he  never  returned,  being  killed  by  a  party  of  the 
enemy's  horse.  Brutus,  judging  very  rightly  of  his  fate, 
now  resolved  to  die  likewise,  and  spoke  to  those  who 
1  round  him  to  lend  him  their  last  sad  assistance. 
None  of  thorn,  however,  would  render  him  so  melan- 
choly a  service.  He  therefore  called  to  one  of  his  slaves 
to  perform  what  he  so  ardently  desired  :  but  Strato,  his 
PJ  offered  himself,  crying  out,  "  That  it  should  nc~ 


162  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

l(  vcr  be  said  that  Brutus,  in  his  last  extremity,  stood  m 
t{  need  ot  fa  friend."     Thus  saying, 

;, ted  the  sword's  point 
uuib,  wh  imsclf  upon  it,  and  imn 

cd. 

From  the  moment  of  Brutus's  death,  the  triumviri  be- 
o  act  as  sovereigns,  and  to  divide  ihe  Roman  do- 
.  >ns  beiwe  by  right  of  conqu 

However,  though  there  was  apparent!  ho  parti- 

only  two  were 

is  was  at  first  I,  merely 

to  curb  the  nr  usy  of  Anthony  and  Augustus  ; 

neither  of  interest  in  the  a: 

authority  among  the  people.     Their  first  care  was  to 
^li  those  whom  they  had  formerly  marked  for  \ 

i  Quimilius  Varu 

i  of  the  first  rank  in  the  commonwealth.  iled 

themselves  or 

>  cast  loU  for  their  lives,  but  both  refused  it ; 

•otheexe- 
t  before  h 
begged  to  have  tin  buiial   after  i. 

i;usius  n  That  he  si 

iic  vultu:  cvoured  ,  the 

,>le  lamented  t«, 
to  be  thrown  at  the  foot  of  Caes;-.: 

e  sent  to  1  laughter, 

-  following  the  example  of  her  hubbai,  ::icr, 

•rd,  that o  i  the  death  of 

.r,  not  one  died  a  i,.  ah. 

The  power  of  the   triumviri   being  thus  established 

.  of  the  commonwealth,  they  now  bi 
.ink  of  ei.  y  had  as* 

!.     Anthony  went  into  (Greece,  to  receive  the  tV 
vy  of  that  refined  people,  and  spent  son 
conversing  among  the  philosophc. 

disputes  in  person.     From  thence  he  pai  into 

,  where  all  the  monarchs  of  the  1 

:c  Roman  power,  came  to  pay  him  their  obe- 
white  the  fairest  princesses  strove  to 


x     EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  16J 

favour  by  the  greatness  of  their  presents,  or  the  allure- 
ments of  their  beauty.  In  this  manner  he  proceeded 
from  kingdom  to  kingdom,  attended  by  a  crowd  of 
sovereigns,  exacting  contributions,  distributing  favours, 
and  giving  away  crowns  with  capricious  insolence.  He 
presented  the  kingdom  of  Cappadocia  to  Sysenes,  in  pre- 
judice of  Ariarathes,  only  because  he  found  pleasure  in 
the  beauty  of  Glaphyra,  the  mother  of  the  former.  He 
settled  Herod  in  the  kingdom  of  Judea  and  supported 
him  against  every  opposer.  But  among  all  the  sovereigns 
ot  the  East  who  shared  his  favours,  none  had  so  large  a 
part  as  Cleopatra,  the  celebrated  queen  of  Egypt. 

It  happened  that  Serapion,  her  governor  in  the  island 
of  Cyprus,  had  formerly  furnished  some  succours  to  the 
conspirators  ;  and  it  was  thought  proper  that  he  should 
answer  for  his  conduct  on  that  occasion.  Accordingly, 
having  received  orders  from  Anthony  to  come  and  clear 
herself  of  this  imputation  of  infidelity,  she  readily  com- 
plied, equally  conscious  of  the  goodness  of  her  cause, 
and  the  power  of  her  beauty.  She  was  now  in  her  twen- 
ty-seventh year,  and  consequently  had  improved  those 
allurements  by  art,  which,  in  earlier  age,  are  seldom 
attended  to.  Her  address  and  wit  were  still  farther 
heightened,  and  though  there  were  some  women  in  Rome 
that  were  her  equals  in  beauty,  none  could  rival  her  in 
the  charms  of  seducing  conversation.  Anthony  was  now 
in  Tarsus,  a  city  of  Cilicia,  when  Cleopatra  resolved  to 
attend  his  court  in  person.  She  sailed  to  meet  him 
down  the  river  Cydnus,  at  the  mouth  of  which  the  city 
stood  with  the  most  sumptuous  pageantry.  Her  galley 
was  covered  with  gold,  the  sails  of  purple,  large  and 
floating  in  the  wind.  The  oars,  of  silver  kept  time  to 
the  sound  of  flutes  and  symbols.  She  herself  lay  re- 
clined on  a  couch  spangled  with  stars  of  gold,  and  with 
such  ornaments  as  poets  and  painters  had  usually  ascrib- 
ed to  Venus.  On  each  side  were  boys  like  Cupids,  who 
fanned  her  by  turns;  while  the  most  beautiful  nymphs 
drest  like  Naiades  and  Graces,  were  placed  at  proper 
distances  around  her.  Upon  the  banks  of  the  river  were 
kept  burning  the  most  exquisite  perfumes,  while  an  in-* 
finite  number  of  people  gazed  upon  the  sight  with  a 


164  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

mixture  of  delight  and  admiration.  Anthony  wa^ 
tivated  with  her  beauty,  and  leaving  all  his  husinc* 
satisfy  his  passion,  shortly  after  followed  herii, 
There  he  continued  in  all  that  case  and  softness  to  \\ 
his  vicious  heart  was  prone,  and  which  that  luxu; 
people  were  able  to  sup 

While  he  remained  thus  idle  in  Egypt,  Augustus,  who 
took  upon  himself  to  lead  back  the  veteran  troop 
tie  them  in  I  iuously  emplc, 

ing  for  their  c.     He  had  promi 

at  hsme  as  a  recompense  for  their  pas'  they 

could  not  receive  their 
the  former  inhabitants.     In  conscqut 
tudcs  of  women  with  children  in  their  arms,  whose 
der  years  and  innocence  excited  uni 
daily  filled  the  temples  and  streets  v  ress- 

ses.     Numbers  of  husbandmen  .c  to 

1C  the  conqueror's  intention,  < 
iuiiion   in  some  other  part  of  the  world, 
number  c   poet,  t< 

more  obligations  than  to  a  thou^. 
a  humble  manner  begged  pern.'. 

.rrn.      Virgil  obtai:  •.,  but  the 

of  his  countrymen 
OUt  v. ; 

tbei                  Idiers  plundered  at  will.  'om- 
pey  being  master  of  the  sea 

•.lie  people's  re  sual 

of  corn.  ided  the 
emcnt  of  another 

left  behind  him  u 

mic  time  all  the  and 
resolved  to  try  every  method  of1  >ack  her  hus- 
band from  the  arms  of  Cleopul: 

\ugustus   as  the  <  s  of 

rousing  him  from  his  lethargy  ;  and  at  •  he 

e  of  Lucius,  her  brother-i  thecon- 

y  devoted  to  her  interest,  she  -ow 

the  seeds  of  dissention.     The  pretext  \  Anthony 

3bould  liave  a  share  in  the  dbtiib-ution  of  land^ 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  165 

as  Augustus.  This  produced  negociations  between 
them,  and  Augustus  offered  to  make  the  veterans  them- 
selves umpires  in  the  dispute.  Lucius  refused  to  acqui- 
esce ;  and  being  at  the  head  of  more  than  six  legions, 
mostly  composed  of  such  as  were  dispossessed,  he  resolv- 
ed to  compel  Augustus  to  accept  of  whatsoever  terms 
he  should  offer,  Thus  a  new  war  was  excited  between 
Augustus  and  Anthony,  or  at  least  the  generals  of  the 
latter  assumed  the  sanction  of  his  name.  Augustus  how- 
ever, was  victorious  :  Lucius  was  hemmed  in  between 
two  armies,  and  constrained  to  retreat  to  Persia,  a  city 
of  Etruria,  where  he  was  closely  besieged  by  the  oppo- 
site party.  He  made  many  desperate  sallies,  and  Ful- 
via  did  all  in  her  power  to  relieve  him,  but  without  suc- 
cess. He  was  at  last,  therefore,  reduced  to  such  extre- 
mity by  famine,  that  he  came  out  in  person  and  delivered 
himself  up  to  the  mercy  of  the  conqueror,  Augustus 
received  him  very  honourably,  and  generously  pardoned 
him  and  all  his  followers. 

Anthony  having  heard  of  his  brother's  overthrow, 
and  his  wile's  being  compelled  to  leave  Italy,  was  resolv- 
ed to  oppose  Augustus  without  delay.  He  accordingly 
sailed,  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  fleet  from  Alexan- 
dria to  Tyre,  and  from  thence  to  Cyprus  and  Rhodes, 
and  had  an  interview  with  Fulvia,  his  wife,  at  Athens.— 
He  much  blarncd  her  for  occasioning  the  late  disorders, 
testified  the  utmost  contempt  for  her  person,  and  leaving 
her  upon  her  death  bed  at  Sycion,  hastened  into  Italy 
to  fight  Augustus.  They  both  met  at  Brundusiuni,  and 
it  was  now  thought  that  the  flames  of  a  civil  war  were 
going  to  blaze  out  once  more.  The  forces  of  Anthony 
were  numerons,  but  mostly  new  raised  ;  however,  he 
was  assisted  by  Sextus  Pompeius,  who,  in  these  oppo- 
sitions of  interest,  was  daily  coming  into  power.  Au- 
gustus was  at  the  head  of  those  veterans  who  had  al- 
ways been  irresistable,  but  who  seemed  no  way  disposed 
to  fight  against  Anthony,  their  former  general.  A  ne~ 
gocialion  was  therefore  proposed  ;  and  by  the  activity  of 
Cocceius,  a  friend  to  both,  a  reconciliation  was  effected; 
All  offences  and  affronts  were  mutually  forgiven  ;  and 
to  cement  the  union,  a  marriage  was  concluded  between 


THE  HISTORY  O) 

iony  and  Octavia,  the  sister  of  A 

ion  of  the  Roman  emp:  n  them  ; 

Augustus  was  to  have  the  command  of  t!. 
ihony  of  the  Last,  while  Lepidus  was  obliged  to  content, 
himself  with  the  provi 

Pompci  .ill  the  islands  he 

had  already  possessed,  together  v 
was  ;ed  the  p: 

any  of  hib  friends.     It 
the  s 
of  Sicily 

isfaction  of  the  people,  who  expected  a 
from  all  their  calami 

j  continue  for  sonru  \  ruho- 

n  his 
lieutenai 

. 

to  secure  his  i  rest.     It 

on  this  -at  fresh  i  n  for 

renewing  the  i-ea- 

ty  to  quit  Pelopon 

pey  .  ed  him  f<  btsas  wt  him 

from  the  inhabitants.     This  Pompey  would  by  no  means 
comply  with,  but  imrr. 

renewed  corn 

and 

cs  of  the  poor  were  again  re;  the  peo- 

ple began  to  com  ^tead  of 

four. 

In  this  exigence,  A  long  meditated 

the  best  mea:  -ie  number,  resolved  to 

begin  by  getting  : 

con  master  of  two  fleets;  one 

which  he  had  caused  to  be  built  at  Ravenna,  and 
ther  which  Mtnodorus,  who    revolted   from    ! 
brought  to  his  aid.     1  utempt  v. 

.n  his  passage  by  F 

pey.  1  in  a  storm,  he  was  obi 

to  <'-  Designs  to  the  ensuing  year.     Du 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  167 

interval,  he  was  reinforced  by  a  noble  fleet  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  ships,  given  him  by  Anthony,  with 
which  he  resolved  once  more  to  invade  Sicily  on  three 
several  quarters.  But  fortune  seemed  still  determined 
to  oppose  him.  He  was  a  second  time  disabled  and 
shattered  by  a  storm,  which  so  raised  the  vanity  of  Pom- 
pey,  that  he  began  to  style  himself  the  son  of  Neptune. 
However,  Augustus  was  not  to  be  intimidated  by  any 
disgraces  ;  for,  having  shortly  refitted  his  navy,  and  re- 
cruited his  forces,  he  gave  the  command  of  both  to 
Agrippa,  his  faithful  friend  and  associate  in  war.  Agrip- 
pa  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him  ; 
:ic  began  hi*  operations  by  a  victory  over  Pompey  ;  and 
^h  he  was  shortly  after  worsted  himself,  he  soon  af- 
ter gave  his  adversarv  a  complete  and  final  overthrow. 
Thus  undone,  Po...pcy  resolved  to  fly  to  Anthony,  from 
whom  he  expected  refuge,  as  he  had  formerly  obliged 
that  triumvir  by  giving  protection  to  his  mother.  How- 
ever, a  gleam  of  hope  offering,  he  tried  once  more,  at 
the  head  of  a  small  body  of  men,  to  make  himself  inde- 
pendent, and  even  surprised  Anthony's  lieutenants,  whc 
had  been  sent  to  accept  of  his  submission.  Nevertheless 
as  at  last  abandoned  by  his  soldiers,  and  delivered 
o  Titus,  Anthony^s  lieutenant,  whe  shortly  after 
•  aused  him  to  be  slain. 

The  death  of  this  general  removed  one  very  powerful 
icle  to  the  ambition  of  Augustus,  and  he  resolved 
ke  the  earliest  opportunity  to  get  rid  of  the  rest  of 
liis  associates. 

An  offence  soon  after  this  was  furnished  by  Lepidus, 
that  served  as  a  sufficient  pretext  to  Augustus  for  de- 
priving him  of  his  share  in  the  triumvirate.  Being  at 
the  head  of  twenty-two  legions,  with  a  strong  body  of 
.iry,he  idly  supposed  that  his  present  power  was  more 
than  an  equivalent  to  the  popularity  of  Augustus.  He 
therefore  resolved  upon  adding  Sicily,  where  he  then 
was,  to  his  province,  pretending-  a  right,  as  having  first 
invaded  it.  Augustus  sent  to  expostulate  upon  these 
proceedings, but  Lepidus  fiercely  replied,  "  That  he  was 
determined  to  have  his  share  in  the  administration,  and 
would  no  longer  submit  to  let  one  alone  possess  all  the 


168  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

authority."     Augustus  was  previously  informed  ot 
disposition  of  Lepidus's  soldiers  ;  for  he  had  by  his 

intrigues  and  largesses,  entirely  attached  them  to 
himself.     Wherefore,  without  further  delay,  he,  v 
great  boldness  went  alone  to  the  camp  of  Lepidus,  and 
with  no  other  n  his  private  bounties,  and 

the  authority  !  by  his  former  victc  i 

posed  his  rival.     Lepic!  .1  of  all  his  former 

banished  to  Circxum,  ^  jntinued 

the  rest  of  his  life,  despised  by  his  friends,  and  to  . 

holy  object  of  blasted  amti 
There  remained  now  but  one  obstacle  to  his  anV 
whi-  horn  he  re  and 

purpose  began  to  render  his  charactc. 

thony's  conduct  did  not  a   little  contribute  to  promote 
the  endeavour  nbhious  p. 

ah  a  prodigious  a: 
.  d  to  return  with  the  lo? 

baggage.     II  ony 

seeiv  lea- 

sure, 
lie  spent  \vhol<  .  the  com,  !eo- 

i,  Mho  st 

vary  his   entertainment  been  so 

wmch  celebrated  for  the  art  of  giving  novelty  to  ; 

filling   up  UK 

some  nc-  rincmcnt. 

..(I  somcti 
bhc 

of  the  court  .  r.ptuous  enter1 

mcii 

r  company  all  tiic  ,uld 

..s  resolved  to  c  of 

belonged  to  the  U'  . 'hac- 

Ci- 

.\nd  Judc. 

bestow,  but  which  he  pretended  to  grant  i: 
Hercules.    This  complication  of  vice  and  foil 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME,  169 

totally  exasperated  the  Romans  ;  and  Augustus,  willing 
to  take  the  advantage  of  their  resentment,  took  care  to 
exaggerate  all  his  defects.  At  length,  when  he  found  the 
people  sufficiently  irritated  against  him,  he  resolved  to 
send  Octavia,  who  was  then  at  Rome,  to  Anthony,  as  if 
with  a  view  of  reclaiming  her  husband  ;  but,  in  fact,  to 
furnish  a  sufficient  pretext  of  declaring  war  against  him, 
as  he  knew  she  would  be  dismissed  with  contempt. 

Anthony  was  now  at  the  city  of  Leucoplis,  revelling 
with  his  insiduous  paramour,  when  he  heard  that  Octa- 
via was  at  Athens  upon  her  journey  to  visit  him.  This 
was  very  unwelcome  news  as  well  to  him  as  Cleopatra, 
who,  fearing  the  charms  of  her  rival,  endeavoured  to 
Convince  Anthony  of  the  strength  of  her  passion  by  her 
sighs,  languishing  looks,  and  well  feigned  melancholy. 
He  frequently  caught  her  in  tears,  which  she  seemed  as 
if  willing  to  hide,  and  often  entreated  her  to  tell  him  the 
cause,  which  she  seemed  willing  to  suppress.  These  ar- 
tifices, together  with  the  ceaseless  flattery  and  importu- 
nity of  her  creatures,  prevailed  so  much  upon  Anthony's 
weakness,  that  he  commanded  Octavia  to  return  home 
without  seeing  her ;  and  still  more  to  exasperate  the  peo- 
ple of  Rome,  he  resolved  to  repudiate  her,  and  take  Cleo- 
patra as  his  wife.  He  accordingly  assembled  the  people 
of  Alexandria  in  the  public  theatre,  where  was  raised 
an  alcove  of  silver,  under  which  were  placed  two 
thrones  of  gold,  one  for  himself,  and  the  other  for  Cleo- 
patra. There  he  seated  himself, drest  like  Bacchus,  while 
Cleopatra  sat  beside  him  cloathed  in  the  ornaments  and 
attributes  of  Isis,  the  principal  deity  of  the  Egyptians. 
On  that  occasion  he  declared  her  queen  of  all  the  coun- 
tries which  he  had  already  bestowed  upon  her  ;  while 
he  associated  Caesario,  her  son  by  Caesar,  as  her  partner 
in  the  government.  To  the  two  children  which  he  had 
by  her  himself,  he  gave  the  title  of  king  of  kings,  with 
very  extensive  dominions  :  and,  to  crown  his  absurdi- 
ties, he  next  sent  a  minute  account  of  his  proceedings 
to  the  two  consuls  at  Rome. 

In  the  mean  time,  Augustus  had  now  a  sufficient  pre- 
text for  declaring  war,  and  informed  the  senate  of  his 
P 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Till. 

intentions.     However,  he  deferred  the  execution  oi 
idle,  being  then  employed  in  quelling 
erection  of  the  Illy  nans*     The  following  year  was 
::y  taken  up  in  preparations  :  who 

rmonstratcd  to  the  -<  i  he 

*es  of  complaint  against  his  colleague,  who 
!  upon  Sicily  without  ai 

vince  he  hud 

.  icled  all  Italy  among  his  own  sol 
nothing  to  recompense  those  in  A 

contented  to  n  :m- 

..bsurd  to  complain  of  hi  '.ion 

of  a  '  ;  districts  in  Italy,  whc: 

his  soldiers 

\\itli  sm  provoked  him 

my  \uthout  ir  urope  to 

iiilc  he  and  Cleopa  cd  to  Sa- 

c  for  carrying  on 

ulous  enough 

aad  f  Onone  side,  all  the  kin< 

•.he  Euxine  sea,  had  orders  to  send  him 

on  the  o* 

dancers,  bufloons  and  musicians  of 
•  rdered  to  attend  him. 

ex- 

rablc  to 

ut  fr.  i  to  oppose  him  bad  he 

B  into  Italy  ;  but  he  soon  found  lime  to  pu; 
condition  for  .ifter 

found  t!  in  readiness  to  lx 

.  contend- 
ed for.     The  one  -wed  by  ^1!  t-s  of  the 
it  ;  the  other  drew  all  the  strength  of  the  West  to 

>ort  his  pretensions.     Anthony's  fovce  c«v 
body  of  an  hundred  thousand  foot  a! 
horse,  while  his  fleet  amounted  to  five  hundred  ships  of 
'lie  army  of  Augustus  mustered  but  eighty  thou- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  171 

fartd  foot,  but  equalled  his  adversary  in  the  number  of 
cavalry ;  his  fleet  was  but  half  as  numerous  as  Antho- 
ny's ;  however,  his  ships  were  better  built,  and  manned 
with  better  soldiers. 

The  great  decisive  engagement,  which  was  a  naval 
one,  was  fought  near  Actium,  a  city  of  Epirus  at  the 
entrance  of  the  gulph  of  Ambracia.  Anthony  ranged  his 
ships  before  the  mouth  of  the  gulph,  and  Augustus  drew 
up  his  fleet  in  opposition.  Neither  general  assumed  any 
1  station  to  command  in,  but  went  about  from  ship 
to  ship,  wherever  his  presence  was  necessary.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  two  land  armies,  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
gulph,  were  drawn  up,  only  as  spectators  of  the  en- 
;ment,  and  encouraged  the  fleets  by  their  shouts  to 
>ge.  The  battle  begun  on  both  sides  with  great  ur 
dour  ;  and  after  a  manner  not  practised  on  former  occa- 
sions. The  prows  of  their  vessels  were  armed  with  bra- 
zen points,  and  with  these  they  drove  furiously  against 
each  other.  They  fought  for  some  time  with  great  fu- 
ry ;  nor  was  there  any  advantage  on  either  side,  except 
a  small  appearance  of  disorder  in  the  centre  of  Anthony's 
fleet.  But  all  of  a  sudden  Cleopatra  determined  the 
fortune  of  the  day.  She  was  seen  flying  from  the  en- 
gagement, attended  by  sixty  sail,  struck  perhaps  with 
the  terrors  natural  to  her  sex  :  but  what  increased  the 
general  amazement  was,  to  behold  Anthony  himself  fol- 
lowing soon  after,  leaving  his  fleet  at  the  mercy  of  the 
conquerors  ;  and  the  army  at  land  soon  after  followed 
their  example. 

When  Cleopatra  fled,  Anthony  pursued  her  in  a  five 
oared  galley,  and,  coming  along  side  of  her  ship,  enter- 
ed it  without  seeing  or  being  seen  by  her.  She  was  in 
the  stern,  and  he  went  to  the  prow,  where  he  remained 
for  some  time  silent  holding  his  head  between  his  hands. 
In  this"Ynanner  he  continued  three  whole  days,  during 
which,  either  through  indignation  or  shame,  he  neither 
nor  spoke  to  Cleopatra.  At  last  when  they  were 
arrived  at  the  promontory  of  Tenarus,  the  queen's  fe- 
male attendants  reconciled  them,  and  every  thing  went 
on  as  before.  Still,  however,  he  had  the  consolation  to 
pose  his  army  continued  faithful  to  him,  and  accord- 


TIIE  HISTORY  OF  TH-P. 

ingly  dispatched  orders  to  his  lieutenant,  Canidiu 
conduct  it  into  Asia.     However,  he  was  soon  under 

•  hen  he  arrived  in  Africa,  where  he  was  informed 
of  their  submission  to  his  rival.     This  account  so  trans- 
ported him  with   rage,  that  he  was  hardly  i 
from  killing  :  -th,  at  the  cntrea 

his  friends,  he  returned  to  A  . 

ever,  seemed  to  \\  tortitude  i  unes 

which    had    utterly  abandoned    her 

.jlc  richc  tion, 

and  other  acts  of  violence,  t>he  formed  a 
and  unheard  of  project :  il  hole 

fleet  over  the  isthmus  of  Suez  into 

!fin  another  region,  beyond  the  reach 

cd  thither.' 
but  ' 

more 

omitted  n 

II  kinds  ot  ions 

tcj  ubtait.  ,  rms 

.  Augusti.  ,|  Anlho- 

•T  than  his  person  ;  and  if  she  could 

n  upon  any  method  of  ;sdf,  though 

•  xpcnce,  there  is  no  doubt   1  <  uld 

embraced  it    with  gladness.     She  even   still 

of  her  cl. 

cd  aJmostat  tlic  age  of  forty.  rous 

upon  Augustus  those  arts  which  :»   so 

.1  with  t!i  t  men  of  Rome. 

sent  one  her  from 

Anthony  to  Augustus  in  Asia,  tin  hci 

seen  particular  proposals  in 

\mhony  desired  no  more  than  that  his  life  n> 
be  spared,  and  to  have  the  liberty  of  passing  the  reni 

I  in  obscurity.    To  these  proposals  Augus- 
lus  made  no  reply.     Cleopatra  sent  him  also  public  pro- 
iavour  of  her  children  ;  but,  at  the  same  ti 
;ned  him  her  crown,  with  all  the  ensi 
of  roy.  Ity,     To  the  queen's  public  proposals  no  answer 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  173 

was  given :  to  her  private  offer  he  replied,  by  giving 
her  assurances  of  his  favour  in  case  she  sent  away  An- 
thony, or  put  him  to  death.  These  negociations  were 
not  so  private  but  they  came  to  the  knowledge  of  An- 
thony, whose  jealousy  and  rage  every  occurrence  now 
contributed  to  heighten.  He  built  a  small  solitary  house 
upon  a  mole  in  the  sea,  and  there  shut  himself  up,  a  prey 
to  all  those  passions  that  are  the  tormentors  of  unsuc- 
cessful tyranny.  There  he  passed  his  time,  shunning  all 
commerce  with  mankind,  and  professing  to  imitate  Ti- 
mon,  the  man  hater.  However,  his  furious  jealousy  drove 
him  even  from  his  retreat  into  society  ;  for,  hearing  that 
Cleopatrahad  many  secret  conferences  with  one  Thyrsus, 
an  emissary  from  Augustus,  he  seized  upon  him,  and 
having  ordered  him  to  be  cruelly  scourged,  he  sent  him 
back  to  his  patron.  At  the  same  time  he  sent  letters  by 
him,  importing  that  he  had  chastised  Thyrsus  for  insult- 
ing a  man  in  misfortune  ;  kut  withal  he  gave  Augustus 
permissi-n  to  avenge  himself,  by  scourging  Hiparchus, 
Anthony's  freed  man,  in  the  same  manner.  The  re- 
venge in  this  case  would  have  been  highly  pleasing  to 
Anthony,  as  Hiparchus  had  left  him  to  join  the  fortunes 
of  his  more  successful  rival. 

Meanwhile  the  operations  of  the  war  were  carried 
vigorously  forward,  and  Egypt  sooa  after  became  again 
the  theatre  of  the  contending  armies  of  Rome.  Gullus, 
the  lieutenant  of  Augustus,  took  Pare tonium,  which  open- 
ed the  whole  country  to  his  incursions.  On  the  other 
side,  Anthony,  who  had  still  considerable  forces  by  sea 
and  land,  wanted  to  take  that  important  place  from  the 
enemy.  He  therefore  marched  towaixls  it,  flaUe ring  him- 
self, that  as  soon  as  he  should  shew  himself  to  the  legions 
"which  he  had  once  commanded,  the  affection  for  their 
ancient  general  would  revive.  Pie  approached  therefore, 
and  exhorted  them  to  remember  their  former  vows  of 
fidelity.  Gullus,  however,  ordered  all  the  trumpets  to 
sound,  in  order  to  hinder  Anthony  from  being  heard,  so 
that  he  was  obliged  to  retire. 

Augustus  himself  was  in  the  mean  time  advancing 
tvith  another  army  before  Pelusium,  which,  by  its  strong 
P  2 


174  Till.  HISTORY  OF  THL 

.lion,  might  have   retarded  his  progress  for  some 

-crnorof  the  city,  e 

rage  to  defend  it,  or  previously  instructed  by  < 
to  give  it  up,  permuted  him  to  take  posiM  the 

•j  ;  so  that  Augustus  had  now  no  obsta  way 

to  Alexandria  marched  v  .pedhion. 

nony,  upon  hi  sallied  out  to  oppose  him, 

fighting  ion,  and  i 

>  slight  a 

lining   hopes  ;  and,  bcr 
he  re-entered  Ak  n  triumph 

.  •(}  as  he  was>,  to  the  palace,  he  embraced  Cleo; 
.  her  a  soldier  who  had 

and  ' 

)y  n  the 

•  mid  not 

c   to 
by   sea  ;. 

coolly  replied,  tlr.:  ->  enough  to  die  be- 

by  single  combat. 

The  day  uficr,    he  posted  the  few   troops  lu 
paining  upon 

rderstohi 
he  waited  to  tator  of  ti 

good  or- 
der ;  but   his  -agCj 
when  h<:                                    saluting  those  of  A 
and  both  fleets  uni 

harbour.     At  the  very  same  time,  hi  de- 

^d  him.     He  tried,  however,  to  lead  on 
which  were  easily  vanquished,  and  he  himself  corr.j 
c   town.     His  as  now  u 

vernable.     He  could  not  help  crying  out  aloud  as  he 
betrayed  by  Cleopatra,  and  delivered 
.or  *Q  iho-ie  who  for  her  sake  alone  were  his  enei 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  175 

In  these  suspicions  he  was  not  deceived  ;  for  it  was  by 
secret  orders  from  the  queen  that  the  fleet  had  past  over 
to  the  enemy. 

Cleopatra  had,  for  a  long  while,  dreaded  the  effects 
of  Anthony's  jealeusy,  and  had  some  time  before  pre- 
pared a  method  of  obviating  any  sudden  sallies  it  might 
produce.     Near  the  temple  of  Isis  she  had  erected  a 
building,  which  was  seemingly  designed  for  a  sepulchre 
Hither  she  removed  all  her  treasures  and  most  valuable 
effects,  covering  .them  over  with  torches,  faggots,  and 
other  combustible  matter.     This  sepulchre  she  designed 
to  answer  a  double  purpose,  as  well  to  sereen  her  from 
the  sudden  resentments  of  Anthony,  as  to  make  Augustus 
believe  that  she  would  burn  all  her  treasures,  in  case 
he  refused  her  proper  terms  of  capitulation.  Here  there- 
fore she  retired  from  Anthony's  present  mry,  shutting 
the  gates  which  were  fortified  with  bolts  and  bars  of 
iron ;  but  in  the  mean  time  gave  orders  that  a  report 
should  be  spread  of  her  death,  which  news  soon  reached 
Anthony,  and  recalled  all  his  former  love  and  tender- 
ness.    This  poor  wretch  was  now  a  being,  subject  to  the 
gust  of  every  passion,  and  each  of  them  in  extreme, 
now  lamented  her  death  with  the  same  violence  he  ||ad 
but  a  few  minutes  before  seemed  to  desire  it.    "  Wretb- 
"  ed  man,"    cried  he  to  himself:    "  what  is  there  now 
**  worth  living  for,  since  ail  that  could  sooth  or  soften  my 
"  cares  is  departed?  O  Cleopatra,"  continued  he,  being 
got  to  his  chamber,   "  our  separation  does  not  so  much 
**  aiflict  me,  as  the  disgrace  I  suffer  in  permitting  a  wo- 
u  m;m  to  instruct  me  in  the  ways  of  dying."     He  called 
one  of  his  freed  men,  named  Eros,  whom  he  had  en- 
jd  by  oath  to  kill  him,  whenever  fortune  should  drive 
him  to  this  last  resource.     Eros  being  commanded  to 
perform  his  promise,  this  faithful  follower  drew  the  sword 
as  if  going  to  execute  his  orders  ;  but  turning  his  face, 
plunged  h  into  his  own  bosom,  and  died  at  his  master's 
feet.     Anthony  for  a  while  hung  over  his   faithful  ser- 
vant, and  commending  his  fidelity,  took  up  the  sword, 
with  which,  stabbing  himself  in  the  belly,  he  fell  back- 
ward upon  a  little  couch.     Though  the  wound  was  mor- 
tal, yet  the  blood  stopping,  he  recovered  his  spirits,  ami 


176  THt  HISTORY  OF  THE 

earnestly  conjured  those  who  were  come  into  the  room 
to  put  an  end  to  his  life  ;  but  they  all  fitd,  beir 
with  fright  and  horror.     He  therefore  continued  in  this 
manner  for  some  time,  still  crying  out  and  writhing  with 
pain,  till  he  was  informed  by  one  of  the  queen's  sec 
ries  that  his  mistress  was  still  alive.     He  then  earnestly 
desired  to  be  carried  to  the  place  where  si  i  hey 

accordingly  brought  him  to  the  gate  of  the  sepulc! 
but  Cleo;  10  would  not  j  to  be  opened 

appeared  at  the  window,  and  threw  down  ct 
which,  with  some  difficulty,  they  pulled  him  u; 
gently  laid  him  on  a  couch,  Nvherc  bhe  gu  her 

sorrow,  tearing  her  clothes,  beating  her  breast, 
sing  the  wound  of  which  lu 

cd  her  to  moderate  the  transports  of  i  ask- 

ed for  wine,  and  c\  .crnotto  lament  for  his 

fortunes,  but  \  ilatc  him  upo: 

ty,  to  consider  him  as  one  who  had  lived  the  most  pow- 
erful of  men,  and  at  last  died  by  the  hand  of  ;-. 
Just  tts  he  had  done  speaking  ht 

•-us,  \\ho 

informed  of  Anthony's  desperate  conduct.     He 
was  sent  to  try  all  means  of  getting  Clef  o  his 

ing  u  double  motive  for  hh 

citude  on  this  occasion  ;  one,  to  prevent  her  destroying 
the  treasures  she  had  taken  with  her  into  the  tomb  : 

r,  to  preserve  her  person  a>  to  grace 

his  triumph.     Cleopat:  'onhergv 

and  would  not  confer  with  Proculus  except  through  the 
gate,  which  was  very  well  secured.     In  the  mean  time, 
!us,  one  of  A  two 

more  by  the  u  h  Anthony  had  been  d: 

up;  upon  which  Cleopatra  pc; 
drew  a  poignard,  and  attempted  to  stab  he: 
prevented. 

Augustus  was  extremely  pleased  at  finding  her  in  his 
power  :  he  sent  Epaphroditus  to  bring  her  to  hi 
and  to  watch  her  with  the  utmost  circumspection.  He 
was  likewise  ordered  to  MSC  her  in  every  respect  with  that 
deference  and  submission  which  were  due  to  her  rank, 
and  to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  to  render  her  cay 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  1W 

ty  agreeable.  She  was  permitted  to  have  the  honour 
of  granting  Anthony  the  rites  of  burial,  and  furnished 
with  every  thing  she  desired  that  was  becoming  his  dig- 
nity to  receive,  or  her  love  to  offer.  Yet  still  she  lan- 
guished under  her  new  confinement :  her  excessive  sor- 
row, her  many  losses,  and  the  blows  she  had  given  her 
bosom,  produced  a  fever,  which  she  seemed  willing  to 
increase.  She  resolved  to  abstain  from  taking  any  nou- 
rishment, under  the  pretence  of  a  regimen  necessary  for 
her  disorder  ;  but  Augustus,  being  made  acquainted  with 
the  real  motive  by  her  physician,  began  to  threaten  her 
with  regard  to  her  children  in  case  she  persisted. 

In  the  mean  time,  Augustus  made  his  entry  into  Alex- 
andria, taking  care  to  mitigate  the  fears  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, by  conversing  familiarly  as  he  went  along  with 
Areus,  a  philosopher,  and  a  native  of  the  place.  The 
citizens,  however,  tumbled  at  his  approach  ;  and  when 
he  placed  himself  upon  the  tribunal,  they  prostrated 
themselves  with  their  faces  to  the  ground  before  him, 
like  criminals  who  waited  the  sentence  of  their  execution. 
Augustus  presently  ordered  them  to  rise,  telling  them 
that  three  motives  induced  him  to  pardon  them.  His 
respect  for  Alexander,  who  was  the  founder  of  their  city ; 
his  admiration  of  its  beauty  ;  and  his  friendship  for  Are- 
us, their  fellow  citizen.  Two  only  of  particular  note 
were  put  to  death  upon' this  occasion  ;  Anthony's  eldest 
son  Antyllus,  and  Caesario,  the  son  of  Julius  Caesar,  both 
betrayed  into  his  hands  by  their  respective  tutors,  who 
themselves  suffered  for  their  perfidy  shortly  after.  As 
for  the  rest  of  Cleopatra's  children,  he  treated  them  with 
great  gentleness,  leaving  them  to  the  care  of  those  who 
were  entrusted  with  their  education,  who  had  orders  tp 
provide  them  with  every  thing  suitable  to  their  birth. 
As  for  her,  when  she  was  recovered  from  her  late  indis- 
position, he  came  to  visit  her  in  person ;  she  received  him 
lying  on  a  couch  in  a  careless  manner  ;  and,  upon  his 
entering  the  apartment,  rose  up  to  prostrate  herself  be- 
fore him.  She  was  drest  in  nothing  but  a  loose  robe. 
Her  misfortunes  had  given  an  air  of  severity  to  her  fea- 
tures, her  hair  was  dishevelled,  her  voice  trembling,  her 
complexion  pale,  and  her  eyes  red  with  weeping  j  ret 


1T8  THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti 

siill  her  natural  beauty  seemed  to  gleam  through  the 
distresses  that  surrounded  her ;  and  the  L  her 

motion,  and  the  alluring  softness  of  her  looks,  still  bore 
testimony  to  the  former  power  of  her  charrti 
raised  her  with  his  usual  complaisance,  and   debiting 

;ed  himself  besick 

been  prepared  for  this  interview,  and  made  use 
method  she  could  think  of  to  propitiate  the  conque 

tried  apologi  ..ml  allure  •  ob- 

tain ; 

and  skill  fs,  she  turned  her 

defence  i  talked  ci  hu- 

-  those  in  she  read  some  of  his  letters 

long 

i>assed  between  tin 

--he,  "  are  now  ail  his  benefits  to  me  1 
I  not  die  with  him!    Yet  he  still   1; 
cthinks  I  see  him  still  before  me ;  he  re  <>u." 

no  stranger  to  this  method  of  address  ; 
but 

ich  obliged  her  to 
her  attempts  a  different  turn.     She  now  addn 

ith  an  invcnto:  trca- 

is  gave  occasion  to  igu- 

the  little  decorums  of  breed- 
ing were  then  by  no  means  so  carefully  at  o  as 
at  present.     One  of  her  stewards  h;. 
the  inventory  was  clet'i 

n  her  couch,  and  catchi; 

scvo  on  the  f.  :    in- 

cd  her  to 

ed.    To  thii  she  replied,  that  she  could  not 
being  insulted  in  the  presence  of  one  whom  she  so  high- 
ly esteemed.     "  And  supposing."    cried 

cd  a  few  ti  •  blame  when  they 

« I  not  for  myself  but  for  Livia  and  Oc: 
iom  I   hope  to  make   my  intercessor 
fli  which  intimated  a  desire  of  1  9  not 

;reeable  lo  Augustus,  who  politely  assured  her 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  179 

she  was  at  liberty  to  keep  whatever  she  had  reserved,  and 
that  in  every  thing  she  should  be  indulged  to  the  height 
of  her  expectations.  He  then  took  leave  and  departed, 
imagining  he  had  reconciled  her  to  life,  and  to  the  in- 
dignity of  being  shewn  in  the  entended  triumph  which  he 
was  preparing  for  his  return  to  Rome  :  but  in  this  he  was 
deceived.  Cleopatra  all  this  time  had  kept  a  correspon- 
dence with  Dolabella,  a  young  Roman  of  high  birth  in 
the  camp  of  Augustus,  who,  perhaps  from  compassion, 
or  stronger  motives,  was  interested  in  her  misfortunes  : 
by  him  she  was  secretly  informed  that  Augustus  deter- 
mined to  send  her  off  in  three  days,  together  with  her 
children,  to  Rome,  to  grace  his  triumphant  entry.  She 
now,  therefore,  determined  upon  dying  ;  she  now  threw 
herself  upon  Anthony's  coffin,  bewailed  her  captivity, 
and  renewed  her  protestations  not  to  survive  him. 
Having  bathed,  and  ordered  a  sumptuous  banquet,  she 
attired  herself  in  the  most  splendid  manner.  She  then 
feasted  as  usual,  and  soon  after  ordered  all  but  her  at- 
tendant^, Charmion  and  Iras,  to  leave  the  room.  Then, 
having  previously  ordered  an  asp  to  be  secretly  conveyed 
to  her  in  a  basket  of  fruit,  she  sent  a  letter  to  Augustus, 
informing  him  of  her  fatal  purpose,  and  desiring  to  be 
buried  in  the  same  tomb  with  Anthony.  Augustus,  up- 
on receiving  the  letter,  instantly  dispatched  messengers 
to  stop  her  intentions,  but  they  arrived  too  late.  Upon 
entering  the  chamber,  they  beheld  Cleopatra  lying  dead 
upon  a  gilded  couch,  arrayed  in  her  royal  robes.  Near 
her  Iras,  one  of  her  faithful  attendants,  was  stretched 
lif'«  less  at  the  feet  of  her  mistress  ;  and  Charmion  her- 
almost  expiring,  was  settling  the  diadem  upon 
Cleopatra's  head.  "  Alas  1"  cried  one  of  the  messen- 
gers, "  was  this  well  done,  Charmion  ?"  "  Yes,"  repli- 
ed she,  u  it  is  well  done  ;  such  a  death  becomes  a  glori- 
"  ous  queen,  descended  from  a  race  of  noble  ancestors." 
On  pronouncing  these  words,  she  fell  down  and  died 
with  her  much  loved  mistress. 


ISO  THE  HISTORY  Ot  THL 


CHAP.  XXII. 

"z  the  beginning  of  the  reign  cj 
death  of  Do  initial^  the  last  of  the  twelve  Ctesars. 

BK  the  death  of  Anthony,  Augustus  was  now  become 
luster  of  the  Roman  empire.     He  soon  after  re 

ccl  to  Rome  in  triumph,  where,  by  sumptuous  feasts 
hows,  he  began  to  obliterate  the  im- 
pressions of  his  former  cruelty,  and  from  thenceforward 
resolved  to  secure,  by  his  clemency,  a  throne,  the  foun- 
dations of  which  were  laid  in  blood.  He  was  now  at  the 
head  of  the  most  extensive  empire  that  mankind  had 
ever  concurred  in  obeying.  The  former  spirit  c: 
Romans,  and  those  chara* 

lied  them  from  others,  were  totally  K 
was  now  inhabited  by  a  concourse  from  all  thecou) 
of  the  world,  -  consequently 

iotic  principle  monarchy  best 

i  of  government  that  could  be  found  to  unite  its  mem- 
bers. II  .5  very  remarkable,  that  during 
these  long  contentions  among  themselves,  hor- 
rid <  ..  war,  the  state  .ing 
more  formidable  and  powerful,  and  completed 
truction  of  all  the  kings  who  presumed  to  oppose  it. 

to  assure  himself  of  the 

Anthony  ;  to  id  he  publicly  reported  that  he 

had  burnt  all  Anthony's  letu  without1.-, 

ing  ;  convinced,  that  while  any  thought  themselves  sus- 
pected, they  would  be  fearful  of  even  offering  ! 
friendships. 

As  he  had  gained  the  kingdom  by  his  army,  so  also  he 
resolved  to  govern  it  by  the  senate.  This  body,  though 
greatly  fallen  from  their  ancient  splendour,  he  knew  to 
be  the  best  ordered,  and  most  capable  of  wisdom  and 
justice.  To  these,  therefore,  he  gave  the  chief  power  in 
the  administration  of  his  government,  while  he  still  kept 
the  people  and  the  army  stedfast  to  him  by  dona 
and  acts  of  favour.  By  these  means  all  the  odium  of 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  181 

justice  fell  upon  the  senate,  and  all  the  popularity  of  paiv 
don  was  solely  his  ow/i.  Thus,  restoring  to  the  senate 
their  ancient  splendour,  and  discountenancing  all  cor- 
ruption, he  pretended  to  reserve  to  himself  a  very  mo- 
derate share  of  authority,  which  none  could  refuse  him  ; 
namely,  an  absolute  power  to  compel  all  ranks  of  the 
state  to  do  their  duty.  This  in  fact,  was  reserving  ab- 
solute dominion  in  his  own  hands  :  but  the  misguided 
people  began  to  look  upon  his  moderation  with  astonish- 
ment ;  they  considered  themselves  as  restored  to  their 
•brmer  freedom,  except  in  the  capacity  of  promoting  se- 
dition ;  and  the  senate  supposed  their  power  re-establish- 
ed in  all  things  but  their  tendency  to  injustice.  It  was 
even  said,  that  the  Romans,  by  such  a  government,  lost 
-iOthingof  the  happiness  that  liberty  could  produce,  and 
were  exempt  from  all  the  misfortunes  it  could  occasion, 
This  observation  might  have  some  truth  under  such  a 
monarch  as  Augustus  now  seemed  to  be  ;  but  they  -were 
taught  to  change  their  sentiments  under  his  successors, 
when  they  found  themselves  afflicted  with  all  the  pun- 
ishment that  tyranny  could  inflict,  or  sedition  make  ne- 
cessary. 

After  having  established  this  admirable  order,  Au- 
: us  found  himself  agitated  by  different  inclinations, 
and  considered  a  long  time  whether  he  should  keep  the 
empire,  or  restore  the  people  to  their  ancient  liberty. 
But  he  adopted  the  advice  of  Maecenas,  who  desired  him 
to  continue  in  power,  and  was  afterwards  swayed  by 
him,  not  only  in  this  instance,  but  on  every  other  occa- 
sion. By  the  instructions  of  that  minister,  he  became 
gentle,  affable,  and  humane.  By  his  advice  it  was,  that 
he  encouraged  men  of  learning,  and  gave  them  much  of 
his  time  and  his  friendship.  They,  in  their  turn,  reliev- 
ed his  most  anxious  hours,  and  circulated  his  praise 
through  the  empire. 

Thus,  having  given  peace  and  happiness  to  the  em- 
pire, and  being  convinced  of  the  attachment  of  all  the 
orders  of  the  state  to  his  person,  he  resolved  upon  im- 
pressing the  people  with  an  idea  of  his  magnanimity  af- 
.-*).  This  was  nothing  less  than  muking  a  shew  of  re 
Q 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

--  tithority  ;  wherefore,  having  previously 

structed   his  creatures  in  the  senate  how  to  act,  he 
dressed  them  in  a  studied  speech,  importing  the  difficul- 
ty of  governing  so  extensive  an  empire  ;  a  task  which, 
he  said;  none  but  the  immortal  gods  were  equal  to. 
modestly  urged  his  own  inability,  though  impelled  by 
every  motive  to  undertake  it :  and  th  u  degree 

ing  generosity,  free 

,  and  the  se- 

had  coni:  repeatedly  cfl 

>hem  to  understand,  that  the  true 

rit  of  the  Romans  was  not  lost  in  him.     Thi<  speech  ope- 

upon  the  sei.    •     *  more  or 

less  in  the  secret ;  many  believed  the  sincerity  of  his  pro- 

e  fore  regarded  his  conduct  as  an  a  i 
i:-.tllccl   heroism  by  any  thin  ap- 

i  Home;  others,  equally  ignorant  of  his  mot; 
i  hisdesi'  ne  there 

: 

-  fearful  r • . 

cd  by  his  mi  .nipt 

while  speaking,  and  re  pre- 

unanimously  besought  him 
.ion  ;  but  upir 

ing  to  decline  thei:  rcc,  in  a  manner  ct 

to   comply.     Hov 

. ,  they  in  pay 

ird  to  be  doubled.     On  the  t  .t  he 

mig1  >me  concessions  o;. 

c  the  most  po 
;ircdthe 

•akcn  entirely  under  his  own  comn:. 
Over  these  he  assumed  the  government  but 
leaving  the  people  still  in  hopes  ot  r<  heir  an- 

ilom,  but  at  the  same  time  laying  his  measures 

-  11,  that  his  government  was  renewed  e\ 
to  his  death. 

This  shew  of  a  resignation  only  served  to  confirm 
him  in  the  empire  and  the  hearts  of  the  peopk 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  18 j 

honours  were  heaped  upon  him.  He  \?as  then  first  cal- 
led Augustus,  a  name  I  have  hitherto  used,  as  that  by 
which  he  is  best  known  in  history.  A  laurel  was  order- 
ed to  be  planted  at  his  gates.  His  house  was  called  the 
palace,  to  distinguish  it  from  that  of  ordinary  citizens. 
He  was  confirmed  in  the  title  of  father  of  his  country, 
and  his  person  declared  sacred  and  inviolable.  In  short, 
flattery  seemed  on  the  rack  to  find  out  new  modes  ol 
pleasing  him  ;  but  though  he  despised  the  arts  of  the 
senate,  he  permitted  their  homage,  well  knowing  that 
among  mankind  titles  produce  a  respect  which  enforces 
-authority. 

Upon  entering  into  his  tenth  consulship)  the  senate  by 
oath  approved  of  all  his  acts,  and  set  him  wholly  above 
the  power  of  the  laws.  They  some  time  after  offered  to 
swear  to  not  only  all  the  laws  he  had  ir.acle,  but  sue))  UE 
he  should  make  for  the  future.  It  was  then  customary 
with  fathers  upon  their  death  bed  to  command  their 
children  to  carry  oblations  to  the  capital,  with  this  in- 
scription, that  at  the  day  of  their  death  they  left  Augus- 
tus in  health.  It  was  determined  that  no  man  should 
be  put  to  death  on  such  days  as  the  emperor  entered  the 
city.  Upon  a  dearth  of  provisions,  the  people,  in  a  bo- 
dy, entreated  him  to  accept  of  the  dictatorship  :  but, 
though  he  undertook  to  be  procurator  of  the  provisions, 
he  would  by  no  means  accept  of  the  title  of  dictator, 
which  had  been  abolished  by  a  law  made  when  Anthony 
was  consul. 

This  accumulation  of  titles  and  employments  did  not 
in  the  least  diminish  his  assiduity  in  filling  the  duties  of 
each.  Several  very  wholesome  edicts  were  passed  by 
his  command,  tending  10  suppress  corruption  in  the  se- 
nate, and  licentiousness  in  the  people.  He  ordered  that 
none  should  exhibit  a  shew  of  gladiators  without  orders 
from  the  senate,  and  then  no  oftenerthan  twice  a  year; 
nor  with  more  than  an  hundred  and  twenty  at  a  time. 
This  law  was  extremely  necessary  at  so  corrupt  a  period  of 
the  empire ;  when  whole  armies  of  these  unfortunate  men 
were  brought  at  once  upon  the  stage,  and  compelled  to 
fight,  often  till  half  of  them  were  slain.  It  had  been  usual 
also  with  the  knights,  and  some  women  of  the  first  distinc 


181  THE  HISTORY  Oi 

tion,  to  exhibit  themselves  as  dancers  upon  the  theatre 
fee  ordered  that  not  only  they,  but  tht-ir  children 
grand  children,  should  be  restrained  from  such 

i  Ic  fined  many  that  had  refused  to  - 

children.     II  that  virgins  should  not  be  ; 

ed  any  pe 
to  kill  an  adulten 

the  hould  be  aluays  held  ir  nee, 

adding  to  their  authority  what  he  hut 
power,     lie   :  >  man  should 

freedom  oft!.  ..uninalion  in- 

to his  merit  nlcs 

and  .mibsjon  ol 

self  very  inceofthem. 

amincd  their  mor.tls.  not  allowing  tht  i 

in  t!  -'Ugh 

he  encouraged  die  athletic  excr 

permit  women  to  be  p:  -Jing  it  »-; 

coming  the  modesty  ol 

spcr  .,ed  by  naked  men. 

to  prevent  bribery  in  suing  fore:  :ookcensi 

sums  of  money  from  the   candidates  by   way  01" 
pledge  ;  and  if  any  indirect  practices  were  provi 
them,  they  were  obliged  to  forfeit  all 
hitherto  disallowed  to  conf< 

masters  ;.  lied  the  ; 

sold  the  slave  to  anotlu 

.came  free.     Thc>-  her 

gave  the 

thr.t  the  ;  softened 

Indceri  .nded  to 

ed  above 

•!ity,  he  1.  rn  condescension  ; 

rcfore  he  iar  with  all,  and  suffered  1 

viih  the  most  paticiit  Uumi 

Ic  authority  of  his  station. 

. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  185 

thought  proper,  yet  he  gave  laws  their  proper  course, 
and  even  sometimes  pleaded  for  those  he  desired  to  pro- 
tect. Thus  Primus,  the  governor  of  Macedonia,  hav- 
ing a  day  assigned  him  for  having  made  war  upon  the 
Odrisii,  a  neighbouring  state,  as  he  said,  by  the  com- 
mand of  Augustus,  the  latter  denied  the  charge.  Upon 
which  the  advocates  for  Primus  desired  to  know  with 
an  insolent  air,  what  brought  Augustus  into  court,  or 
who  had  sent  for  him  ?  To  this  the  emperor  submissive- 
ly replied,  "  The  commonwealth  ;"  an  answer  which 
greatly  pleased  the  people.  Upon  another  occasion,  one 
of  his  veteran  soldiers  entreated  his  protection  in  a  cer- 
tain cause  ;  but  Augustus,  taking  little  notice  of  his  re- 
quest, desired  him  to  apply  to  an  advocate.  "  Ah,"  re- 
plied the  soldier,  "  it  was  not  by  proxy  that  I  served 
"  you  at  the  battle  of  Aclium."  This  reply  pleased 
Augustus  so  much,  that  he  pleaded  his  cause  in  person 
and  gained  it  for  him.  He  was  extremely  affable,  and 
returned  the  salutations  of  the  meanest  persons.  One 
day  a  person  presented  him  a  petition,  but  with  so  much 
awe,  that  Augustus  was  displeased  with  his  meanness. 
"  What,  friend,"  cried  he>  "  you  seem  as  if  you  were 
"  offering  something  to  an  elephant,  and  not  to  a  man  ; 
"  be  bolder."  One  day,  as  he  was  sitting  on  the  tribu- 
nal in  judgment,  Maecenas,  perceiving  by  his  temper, 
that  he  was  inclined  to  be  severe,  attempted  to  speak  to 
him  :  but  not  being  able  to  get  up  to  tlie  tribunal  for 
the  crowd,  he  threw  a  paper  into  his  lap,  on  which  was 
written,  "  arise  executioner."  Augustus  read  it  without 
any  displeasure,  and  immediately  rising,  pardoned  those 
whom  he  was  disposed  to  condemn.  But  what  most 
of  all  shewed  a  total  alteration  in  his  disposition,  was 
Jus  treatment  of  Cornelius  Cinna,  Pcmpey's  grandson. 
This  nobleman  had* entered  into  a  very  dangerous  con- 
spiracy against  him  ;  but  the  plot  was  discovered  before 
it  was  ripe  for  execution.  Augustus  for  some  time  de- 
bated with  himself  how  to  act ;  but  at  last  his  clemency 
prevailed  ;  he  therefore  sent  for  those  who  were  guilty,  - 
and  after  reprimanding  them  dismissed  them  all.  But 
he  was  resolved  to  mortify  Cinna  by  the  greatness 

Q  2 


Til  '>KY  0; 

:  >r,  addressing  hirn  '' I  haf)p 

•  ior  ;  I  n  >u  the  consul- 

•'  ship;  let  us  therefore  be  :  r  the  fuu, 

i  us  only  contend  in 

•*  or  your  fide!.  .  us."     T; 

•which  tli1 
effect,  that  i:  ,   ceased 

dm. 
I  nth. 

reign  of .  the 

people  seemed   to  conspire   wi: 

ther«  empire 

during  almost  tlu- 
quelling  of  ii 

ions  rule,  to  c 

tion 

und  who  ions  of  t'. 

^  the  Ko- 
- 

cess.     The  C  had  revo' 

more  than  on  ,rip- 

:o  their  inaci  ountains,  there  blocked  them  up, 

and  compelled  tlu  ;ninc,tos 

tion.     The  Germans  also  gave  some  uneasiness  by  their 
repeated  incursions  into  the  territories  of  Gaul,  but  « 
repressed  by  Lollius.     The  Uhe 
Drusus,  the  brother  of  Tiberius.     The  B< 
lae,  barbarous  nations,  making  an  irruption  into  TJ: 
were  overthrown  by  Viso,  governor  of  Pamphylia, 
gained  triumphal  honours.     The  D> 
ied  with  more  than  one  defeat :  the  Armenians  also  N 
brought  into  due  subjection   by  Caius,  his 
The  Getulians,  in  Africa,  took  up  arms  :  but  n 
dued  by  the  consul  Caius  Cossus,  who  thence  rec< 
the  surname  of  Gctulicus.     A  dangerous  wai 
lied  on  against  the  Dalmatians  and  Pcnnoi 
•  f,rcn  ^tli  bv  the  co~ 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  181? 

iong  peace,  gathered  an  army  of  two  hundred  thousand 
foot  and  nine  thousand  horse,  threatening  Rome  itself 
\vith  destruction.  Levies  were  therefore  made  in  Italy 
with  the  utmost  expedition  ;  the  veteran  troops  were  re- 
called from  all  parts,  and  Augustus  went  to  Arminiwm 
for  the  greater  convenience  of  giving  his  directions. 
And  indeed,  though  personal  valour  was  by  no  means 
his  shining  ornament,  yet  no  man  could  give  wiser  or- 
ders upon  every  emergency,  or  go  with  greater  dispatch 
into  all  parts  of  his  dominions  than  he.  This  war  con- 
tinued near  three  years,  being  principally  managed  by 
Tiberius  .,nd  Germanicus  ;  the  latter  of  whom  gained 
reputation  against  these  fierce  and  barbarous  multitudes. 
Upon  their  reduction,  Bato,  their  leader  being  summon- 
ed before  the  tribunal  of  Tiberius,  and  being  demanded 
how  he  could  offer  revolt  against  the  power  of  Rome, 
the  bold  barbarian  replied,  *•  That  the  Romans,  and  not 
.  were  the  aggressors  ;  since  they  had  sent,  instead 
"  of  dogs  and  shepherds  to  secure  their  flocks,  only 
"  wolves  and  bears  to  devour  them."  But  the  war, 
^j  Q  which  was  most  fatal  to  the  Roman  interests, 
7'.  ? '  during  this  reign,  was  that  which  was  managed 
by  Quintillius  Varus.  This  general  invading 
the  territorities  of  the  Germans,  was  induced  to  follow 
the  enemy  among  their  forests  andmarshes  with  his  army 
in  separate  bodies :  there  he  was  attacked  by  night,  and 
entirely  cut  off,  with  his  whole  army.  These  were  the 
best  and  choicest  legions  of  the  whole  empire,  either  for 
valour,  discipline,  or  experience.  The  affliction  from 
this  defeat  seemed  to  sink  very  deep  upon  the  mind  of 
Augustus.  He  was  often  heard  to  cry  out  in  a  tone  of 
anguish  "  Quintillius  Varus  restore  me  my  legions  ;" 
and  some  historians  pretend  to  say  that  he  never  after 
recovered  the  former  serenity  of  his  temper. 

But  he  had  some  uneasiness  of  a  domestic  nature  in 
i.is  own  family  that  contributed  to  distress  him  :  he  had 
married  Livia,  the  wife  of  Tiberius  Nero,  ?ty  the  consent 
of  her  husband,  at  a  time  she  was  six  months  gone 
with  child.  This  was  an  imperious  woman,  and,  con- 
scious of  being  beloved,  she  controlled  him  ever  after  at 
her  pleasure.  She  bad  two  »ons  by  her  former  husband^ 


I8S  THE  HISTORY  OF  THC 

Tiberius  the  elder,  whom  she  greatly  loved  ;  and  I 
sus,  who  was  born  three  months  after  she  had  been  mar- 
ried to  Augustus,  and  who  was  thought  to  be  his  own 
son.     The  eldest  of  these,  Tiberius,  whom  he:ti 
adopted,  and  \rho  succeeded  him  in  the  ci 
good  general,  but  of  a  suspicious  and  obstinate  tern] 
so  that  though  he  was  serviceable  to  Augustus  in  hi 
rei;;  e  him  hut  lii'J-  home. — 

He  was  at  last  obi:  !c  for  five 

the  island  of  1  e  he  chief 

a  retired  manner,  com  ,:h  the  (i recks,  and  ad- 

dicting himself  to  literature  ;  of  which  however  he  made 
afterwards  but  a  b..  Vusus,  th-  died 

hi  his  return  from  an  expeditio:. 

stus  inconsolable  lost.     Mir 

.dlUction  was  the  conduct  of  his  daughter  Julia, 
whom  hf 

in  he  married  to  his  general  Agrippn,  :   his 

death  to 

contented  with  enjoyin  '  also 

y  of  her  prostituti 

s  fora  Ion  -uld  not  believe  the 

he  <  -induct)  but  at  last  could  not  : 

observing  them.     He  found 
cess  andproi!: 

turnal  appointments  in  the  most  public  parts  of  the  c 
the  very  court  where  her  father  presided  - 
empt  from  her  debaucheries.     I ! 
of  puttin  .  but  after  son^< 

bani  forbidding  her  the   use  of 

wine,  and  all  s  as  could  inflame  her  vicious 

inclinations  :  he  ordered  also  that  no  person  should  c 
D  permission, and  sent  her  me : 
Scribonia  with  her  to  1  ompany.     Afu 

mpted  to  intercede  for  Julia,  his 

,  "  That  fire  and  water  should  sooner  unite  '. 
"  he  with  \ifff  "    ^  hen  some  persops  one  day  were  more 
lhan  usually  urgent  with  him  in  her  favour,  he  was  dri- 
10  such  an  extremity  of  passion  as  to  wish  that  they 
might  have  such  a  daughter.     However,  she  had 
sons  by  Agrippa,  named  Caius  and  Lucivn,  from  whom 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  189 

great  expectations  were  formed ;  but  they  died  when 
scarcely  arrived  at  man's  estate  ;  Lucius  about  five  years 
after  his  father,  at  Marseillies,  and  Caius  two  years  after. 
Augustus  having  now,  in  a  great  measure  survived  all 
his  contemporaries,  at  length,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year 
of  his  age,  began  to  think  of  retiring  from  the  fatigues 
of  state,  and  in  some  measure  of  continuing  Tiberius, 
his  son-in-law  by  Livia,  his  successor  in  his  usual  em- 
pi  -yments,     He  desired  the  senate  to  salute  him  no  lon- 
ger at  the  palace  according  to  custom  ;  nor  to  take  it 
amiss,  if,  for  the  future,  he  could  not  converse  with  them 
as  formerly.     From  that  time  Tiberius  was  joined  in  the 
jj  £     government  of  the  provinces  with  him,  and  in~ 
7'-  '    vested  with  almost  the  same  authority.  How- 
ever, Augustus  could  not  entirely  forsake  the 
administration  of  the  state,  which  habit  had  mixed  with 
his  satisfactions ;  he  still  continued  a  watchful  guardian  of 
its  interests,  and  shewed  himself  to  the  last  a  lover  of 
his  people.     Finding  it  now  therefore  very  inconvenient 
to  come  to  the  senate  by  reason  of  his  age,  he  desired  to 
have  twenty  privy  counsellors  assigned  him  for  a  year  ; 
and  it  was  decreed,  that  whatever  measures  ^>ere  resolv- 
ed upon  by  them  together  with  the  consuls,  they  should 
have  entirely  the  force  of  a  law.     He  seemed  in  some 
measure  apprehensive  of  his  approaching  end,  for  he 
made   his  will,  and  delivered  it  to  the  vestal  virgins. 
He  then  solemnized  the  census,  or  numbering  the  peo- 
ple, whom  he  found  to  amount  to  four  millions,  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven  thousand  ;  which  shews  Rome  to 
be  equal  to  four  of  the  greatest  cities  of  modern  times. 
While  these  ceremonies  were  performing  by  a  mighty 
roncourse  of  people  in  the  Campus  Martius,  it  is  said  that 
an  eagle  flew  round  the  emperor  several  times,  and  di- 
recting its  flight  to  a  neighbouring  temple,  perched  over 
the  name  of  Agrippa,  which  was  by  the  augurs  con* 
ceived  to  portend  the  death  of  the  emperor.     Shortly 
after,  having  accompanied  Tiberius  in  his  march  into 
lllyria  as  far  as  Beneventum,  he  was  there  taken  ill  of  a 
diarrhoea.     Returning  therefore  from  thence,  he  came 
to  Nola,  near  Capua,  and  there  finding  himself  danger- 
ously ill,  he  sent  for  Tiberius  with  the  rest  of  his  most 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti 

aatc  friends  and  acquaintance.     A  few  hours  be 
his  death  he  ordered  a  looking-glass  to  be  brought)  and 
his  hair  to  be  adjusted  with  more  than  uv 
then  addressed  his  friends  whom  he  beheld  surroun 
his  bed,  and  desired  to  know  whether  he  had  pro] 
played  hi  hichbein  cd  in  the 

affirmative,  he  cried  out  with  his  last  breath,  "  then 

'  thus,  in  the 
year  oi  .. 
the.  uge 

jll. 

death  of  the  emperor  when  known  caused  inex- 
pressible gric;  >ut  the  whole  Roman  empit . 

illingtoprocurethesuccesbion  more  speed- 
. she  took 

•.11  the  passa- 
ges '  ver- 
cd,  and  p  '.tied 

'.  or's 

the  adoption  of  Tiberius  to 
the.  I' he  emperor'- 

-rice.       1 

con- 
.  the 
beginning  of  his  ^  .  unable  t< 

c  of  his   sorr-  ing,  gave 

,otes  to  Drusushis  son  v 

After  this,  one  of  the  late  emperor's,  freed  mei. 
ri  the  senate  house,  wherein  he  : 
is  and  Livia  his  heirs  ;  am!  like- 

;>tcd  into  the  Juli-in  family,  and  honoured 
the  IKUIV  ides  his  will,  four  other 

al  ;  another,  r 
I  exploits ;  a  third, coir.; 
ccount  of  the  provinces,  forces,  and 
:c  empire  ;  and  a  fourtl  ule  of  directic. 

•rius  for  governing  the  empire.     Among  the 
found  to  be  nis  opinion,  that  no  man,  how  gi 
favo  cr  he  might  be,  should  be  entru 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  191 

loo  much  authority,  lest  it  should  induce  him  to  turn 
tyrant.  Another  maxim  was,  that  none  should  desire 
to  enlarge  the  empire  which  was  already  preserved  with 
difficulty.  Thus  he  seemed  studious  of  serving  his  coun- 
try to  the  very  last,  and  the  sorrow  of  the  people  seem- 
ed equal  to  his  assiduity.  It  was  decreed  that  all  the 
women  should  mourn  for  him  a  whole  year.  Temples 
were  erected  to  him ;  divine  honours  were  allowed  him  ; 
and  one  Nurnerius  Atticus,  a  senator  willing  to  convert 
the  adulation  of  the  times  to  his  own  benefit,  received  a 
large  sum  of  money  for  swearing  that  he  saw  him  ascend- 
ing into  heaven  ;  so  that  no  doubt  remained  among  the 
people  concerning  his  divinity. 

Such  were  the  honours  paid  to  Augustus,  whose  pow- 
er began  in  the  slaughter,  and  terminated  in  the  happi- 
ness of  his  subjects  ;  so  that  it  was  said  of  him,  "  That 
"  it  had  been  good  for  mankind  if  he  had  never  been 
"  born,  or  if  he  never  had  died."  It  is  very  probable 
that  the  cruelties  exercised  in  his  triumvirate  were  sug- 
gested by  his  colleagues ;  or,  perhaps,  he  thought,  in 
the  case  ol  Caesar's  death,  that  revenge  was  virtue.  Cer- 
tain it  is,  that  these  severities  were  in  some  measure 
necessary  to  restore  public  tranquility  ;  for,  until  the 
Roman  spirit  was  entirely  eradicated,  no  monarchy  could 
be  secure.  He  gave  the-government  an  air  suited  to  the 
disposition  of  the  times ;  he  indulged  his  subjects  in  the 
pride  of  seeing  the  appearance  of  a  republic,  while  he 
made  them  really  happy  in  the  effects  of  a  most  absolute 
monarchy,  guided  by  the  most  consummate  prudence. 
In  this  last  virtue  he  seems  to  have  excelled  most  mon- 
archs  ;  and  indeed,  could  we  separate  Octavius  from 
Augustus,  he  would  be  one  of  the  most  faultless  princes 
in  history. 

•rj  £  Tiberius  was  fifty-six  years  old  when  he 
'  *  took  upon  him  the  government  of  the  Roman 

A  D  15  emP*re-  ^6  liatl  lonS  live(l  in  a  Profound 
'  state  of  dissimulation  under  Augustus,  and 
was  not  yet  hardy  enough  to  shew  himself  in  his  real 
character.  In  the  beginning  of  his  reign  nothing  ap- 
peared but  prudence,  generosity,  and  clemency.  But 
the  successess  of  Gcrmanicus,  his  nephew>  over  the  Ger- 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THL 

mans,  first  brought  his  natural  dispositions  to  lii,rht. 

v  of  his  mind  without  cii 
oon the i  It  on  the  most 

means  of  nimbi  i-  .  anc! 

renv  l'or  this  purpose 

he  i  r.  of  a  fu: 

cute  tho 
His  in  struct  i 

:ich, 

suspicion,  he  o  procun 

death  if  an  opporj.  \\ Id  offer.     T:  sue- 

.  after  ;  a; 
universally  believe  on. 

awe-  he  began  to  pull  oft'thi 
more  in 

«  he  took  iiito  his-  c 

jaiv..-  nd  out  li  cl  of 

c  of 
his 

own  arts,     h  e  ad- 

r  of  all  the  cruchic»  th;it  ensued    soon  after;  buf 

that  from   tin 
femcd  to  become  r  ious. 

Tiberius  to  i  •  ren»ote 

from   Rome 

.,ince  there  could  be  no  access  to  the  emperor  but  by 
him.     The  er  i  ithcr  prevailed  up  per- 

lons,  or  pursuing  the   natural  turn  o! 
vrhich  led  to  indo!  Iftii 

year  of  1.  nia> 

under  pretence  of  dc  cmples  to  Jupiter  and 

Au; 

nful 

>m  the  contii 
ies.     Hvu-icd  in  this  ret: 
idoned  pleasures,  c]\ 
-he  miseries  of  his  subjects- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  133 

In  fact,  it  had  been  happy  for  mankind  had  he  given 
up  his  suspicions  when  he  declined  the  fatigues  of  reign- 
ing, and  resigned  the  will  to  do  harm  when  he  divested 
himself  of  the  power  of  doing  good.  But  from  the 
time  of  his  retreat  he  became  more  cruel,  and  Sejanus 
tys  endeavoured  to  increase  his  distrusts.  Secret 
*pies  and  informers  were  placed  in  all  pans  of  the  city, 
who  converted  the  most  harmless  actions  into  subjects 
ofoftence. 

In  consequence  of  this,  Nero  and  Drusus,  the  chil- 
dren of  Germanieus,  were  declared  enemies  to  the  state, 
and  afterwards  starved  to  death  in  prison,  while  Agrip- 
j>ina,  their  mother,  was  sent  into  banishment.  Sabinus, 
Asinius  Gallus,  and  Syriacus,  were,  upon  slight  preten-. 
ces,  condemned  and  executed.  In  this  manner  Sejanus 
proceeded,  removing  all  who  stood  between  him  and 
the  empire,  and  every  day  increasing  in  confidence  with 
Tiberius,  and  power  with  the  senate.  The  number  of 
his  statues  exceeded  even  those  of  the  emperor ;  people 
;  e  by  his  fortune,  in  the  same  manner  as  they  would 
have  done  had  he  been  actually  upon  the  throne  ;  and 
he  was  more  dreaded  than  even  the  tyrant  who  actually 
enjoyed  the  empire.  But  the  rapidity  of  his  rise  seem- 
ed  only  preparatory  to  the  greatness  of  his  downfall. 
All  we  know  rf  his  first  disgrace  with  the  emperor  is, 
that  Satrius  Secundus  was  the  man  who  had  the  bold- 
ness to  accuse  him  of  treason  ;  and  Antonia,  the  mo- 
ther of  Germanicys,  seconded  the  accusation.  The  se» 
Date,  who  had  long  been  jealous  of  his  power,  and  dread- 
ed his  cruelty*  immediately  took  this  opportunity  of  go- 
ing beyond  the  orders  of  Tiberius,  and  instead  of  sen- 
tencing him  to  imprisonment,  they  directed  his  execu- 
tion. As  he  was  conducting  to  his  fate,  the  people  fbad- 
cd  him  with  insult  atfid  execration.  He  was  pursued 
with  sarcastic  reproaches  ;  his  statues  were  instantly 
thrown  down,  and  he  himself,  shortly  after,  strangled 
by  the  executioner. 

His  death  only  lighted  up  the  emperor's  rage  for  far- 
ther executions.     Plancina,  the  wife   of  Piso,  Sextus 
1  ilius,  Vcscuhiius  Atticus,  and  Julius  Marinus,  were 
B 


T!  ;ORY  OF  Ti 

executed  by  his  con.mand  for  being  attached  to 
He  began  to  grow  weary  of  pa; 

l\  the  accused  should  be  put 
,  uithoul  further  t. 

•  ith  slaughter  ami  mourning.     \Vlun  one 
uiius    had    killed    himself   to  ; 

When  a  ; 
would  not  dct.  the 

i  sudicicntly  your  friend  to 
its." 

!,  odious  to  all 

i  self:  an  enemy  to  the  1  .ers, 

length,  in  tin 
.11  to  feel  the  *. 

totally  to 

e  to 
;hini. 

was  wcllacq  ,  cover  the  me 

- ,  he  seemed  willing  to 

off  the  inquietude 
/ns.     He  left  i 
inent  ;  and  at  last  fixed  upo: 
Mibcnum,  in  a  house  that  fo: -. 

by  i!  '»rth  from  the 

.^t  the  applauses  of 

ciu  he  was  informed  that  t 

.nit  filled  : 
court  with  terror  and  al 

ig  their  joy,  in 
.  !•  preleiivicd  sorrow,  and  left  thi 

citude  for  the  fate  of  the  old. 
-lerstruck  :  he  pre^^ 

but  death,  instead  of  the  empire  at 
ircd,     Ma«  ro,  however,  who 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

dened  in  crimes,  ordered  that  the  dying  emperor  should 
U  C  790  ^e  dispatched,  tyr  smothering  him  with 
AD  n9  pi^ows' or»  as  others  will  have  it,  by  poi- 
son. In  this  manner  Tiberius  died,  in  the 
seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  after  reigning  twenty- 
two. 

It  was  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  this  monarch's  reign 
that  Christ  was  crucified,  as  if  the  universal  depravity  of 
mankind,  wanted  no  less  a  sacrifice  than  that  of  God 
himself  to  reclaim  them.  Shortly  after  his  death  Pilate 
wrote  toTiberius  an  account  of  his  passion,  resurrection, 
and  miracles  ;  upon  which  the  emperor  made  a  report  of 
the  whole  to  the  senate,  desiring  that  Christ  might  be 
accounted  a  God  by  the  Romans.  But  the  senate,  being 
displeased  that  the  proposal  had  not  come  first  from 
themselves,  refused  to  allow  his  apotheosis,  alledging  an 
ancient  law  which  gave  them  the  superintendance  in  all 
matters  in  religion.  They  even  went  so  far,  as  by  an 
edict,  to  command  that  all  Christians  should  leave  the 

,  but  Tiberius,  by  another  act,  threatened  death  to 
all  such  as  should  accuse  them  ;  by  which  means  they 
continued  unmolested  during  the  rest  of  his  reign. 
All  the  enormities  of  Caligula  were  concealed  in  the 

nning  of  his  reign.  But  it  had  been  happy  for  him 
and  the  empire  had  such  a  beginning  been  as  strenuous- 
ly maintained.  In  less  than  eight  months,  all  appear- 
ance of  moderation  and  clemency  vanished  ;  while  fu- 
rious passions,  unexampled  avarice,  and  capricious  cru- 
elty began  to  take  their  turn  in  his  mind.  Pride,  im- 
piety, lust,  avarice,  and  all  in  the  extreme,  were  every 
moment  brought  forward. 

His  pride  first  began  by  assuming  to  himself  the  title 

uler,  which  was  usually  granted  only  to  kings.  He 
would  also  have  taken  the  crown  and  diadem,  had  he 
not  been  advised,  that  he  was  already  superior  to  all  the 
monarchs  of  the  world.  Not  long  after  he  assumed  di- 
vine honours,  and  gave  himself  the  name  of  such  divini- 
ties as  he  thought  most  agreeable  to  his  nature.  For 
this  purpose  he  car.sed  the  heads  of  the  statues  of  Jupi- 
ter, and  some  other  gods,  to  be  struck  off,  and  his  own 

c  put  in  their  places.     He  frequently  seated  himseU 


THE  HISTORY  OF  TH-L 

IK!  Pollux,  and  ordered  that  all 
icto  their  temple  to  worship  should  pay  their  iu 
b  only  to  him.     However,  such  was  th. 
inconstancy  of  ihis  unaccountable  idiot,  that  hr 
edhiscli  changed  his  clothes.     Being 

at  one  li:  ity,  at  another  a  ftmuK 

»-s  Jupiter  or  Murs,  and  not  unfrequently  Venus  or 
and  dec!  le  to  his 

own 
ilre^t  in  simi! 

*c;«.      Ji 

were  numerous  ;  the  srcrifices  made  to  him  were  of  the 
icacies  that  could  be  \  and 

the  -  .'.hood  was  sought 

ever,  he  :  his 

wife  and  his  horse  K>  tfm  honour  j  and,  lo  give  a  fi: 
ing  stroke  to  1. 
His  n.' 

mor.  it  in  the  stile  of  a  He  often 

ed  it  to  his  bed,  lo  taste,  the  ; 
ces.     He  employed  many  inventions  to  imitate 
and  would   fiequt:  Jupiter,  crying  out  with  a 

speech  of  Ho  you  conquer  me,  or  I  will  con- 

''queryou."     He   frequently  pretended  to  en 
whispers  with  the 

•plies,  threatening  to  si  .-ungimo 

L-CC.     Soi  me  a  bet- 

ter i  i-d  that  they  two  should 

dwell 

Of  all  l  the  most 

able 

The  luxuries  of  former  cmpere 
itself  wh 

contrived  nc-.v  in^,   wlien  the  richest 

mul  mos1.  usted  with  the  ut- 

most ;  nndout  di-  lue> 

ong 
his  n  mctimes  had  services  of  pure    gold 

..-ntecl  before  li  instead  of  me, 

1  hat  a  man  slv  lomist  or  :\n  empc: 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  197 

The  expensive  manner  in  which  he  maintained  his 
horse  will  give  some  idea  of  hh  domestic  ceconomy. 
He  built  it  a  stable  of  marble,  and  a  manger  of  ivory. 
Whenever  this  animal,  M'hich  he  called  Incitatus,  was 
to  run,  he  placed  centinels  near  its  stable  the  night  pre- 
ceding to  prevent  its  slumbers  from  being  broken.  He 
appointed  it  an  house,  furniture  and  kitchen,  in  order 
to  treat  all  its  visitors  with  proper  respect.  The  empe- 
ror sometimes  invited  Incitatus  to  his  own  table,  present- 
ed it  with  gilt  oats  and  wine  in  a  golden  cup.  He  often 
swore  by  the  safety  of  his  horse  ;  and  it  is  said  he  would 
have  appointed  it  to  the  consulship  had  not  his  death 
prevented. 

His  impiety  was  but  subordinate  to  his  cruelties.  He 
slew  many  of  the  senate,  and  afterwards  cited  them  to 
appear  as  if  they  had  killed  them  themselves.  He  cast 
great  numbers  of  »ld  awd  infirm  men,  and  poor  decrepit 
house-keepers  to  wild  beasts,  to  free  the  state  from  such 
unsejviceable  citizens.  He  usually  fed  his  toild  beasts 
with  the  bodies  of  those  wretches  whom  he  condemned, 
and  every  tenth  day  sent  off  numbers  of  them  to  be  thus 
devoured,  which  he  jocosely  called  clearing  his  accounts. 
One  of  those  who  was  thus  exposed,  crying  out  that  he 
was  innocent,  Caligula  ordered  his  tongue  to  be  cut  out, 
and  then  thrown  into  the  amphitheatre  as  before.  He 
look  delight  in  killing  men  with  slow  tortures,  that,  as 
he  exprest  it,  they  might  feel  themselves  dying  ;  being 
always  present  at  such  executions,  himself  directing  the 
duration  of  the  punishment,  and  mitigating  the  tortures, 
merely  to  prolong  them.  In  fact,  he  valued  himself  for 
no  quality  more  than  this  unrelenting  temper  and  in- 
flexible severity,  which  he  preserved  while  presiding  at* 
an  execution.  At  one  time  being  incensed  with  the 
citizens  of  Rome,  he  wished  that  all  the  Roman  people 
had  but  one  neck  that  he  might  dispatch  them  at  a 
blow. 

Such  insupportable  and  capricious  cruelties  produced 
many  secret  conspiracies  against  him  ;  but  these  were 
for  a  while  deferred  upon  account  of  his  intended  expe- 
dition against  the  Germans  and  Pritons,  >vhich  he  tin*  • 


Tl! 

k  in  the  third  year  uf  his  reign. 

auscdnij.  vies  lobe 

ma-, 
i  so  much  ro.oimio. 

:•  all  befo  per- 

•low  tii.it  it  i: 

•wel:  .  om  the  * 

oth- 
re- 

;  the 
wh< 

.  with  \\  lii 

he  commanded  his  trumpet 
be  r 

:po»  the  short 

of  tl 

pedi  logethcr  as  a  gent 

be  joyful. 

But  that  such  thuuld  !»•  :ioutamemo« 

rial,  he 

side,  and  ordered  :  .  he  had  put  t- 

to  be  conveyed  to  Rome,  in  a  jjreat  measure  by  i 

:ie  praetorian 

the  person  v.  1  the  world  ol 

*  liesiJes  the  motives  which  lie  hud  in  common  v. 
,  he  ted  received  repeated  insults  from  ' 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  199 

who  took  all  occasions  of  turning  him  to  riclicule,  and 
impeaching  him  of  cowardice,  merely  because  he  hap- 
pened to  have  an  ejfem:wat^|pfoice.  .Whenever  Cberea 
came  to  demand  the  watch-word  from  the  emperor,  ac- 
cording to  custom,  he  always  gave  him  either -Venus, 
Adonis',  or  some  such,  implying  effeminacy  aud'softness. 
He  therefore  secretly  imparted  bis  designs  to  several 
senators  and  knights  whom  he  knew  to  have  received 
personal  injuries  from  Caligula';  among  whom  was  Va- 
lerius  Asiaticus,  whose  wife  the  emperor  had  debauched. 
Anius  Vinicianus  also  was  desirous  of  engaging  in  the 
first  design  that  offered.  Besides  these,  were  Clemens 
the  prefect*  and  Calistus,  whose  riches  made  him  ob- 
noxious to  the  tyrant's  resentment. 

While  these  were  deliberating  upon  the  most  certain 
and  speedy  method  of  destroying  the  tyrant,  an  unex- 
pected incident  gave  new  strength  to  the  conspiracy. 
Pompedius,  a  senator  of  distinction,  having  been  accu- 
sed before  the  emperor  of  having  spoken  of  him  with  dis- 
respect, the  informer  cited  one  Quintilia,  an  actress,  to 
confirm  his  accusation.  Quintilia,  however,  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  degree  of  fortitude  not  easily  found  even  in 
the  other  sex.  She  denied  the  fact  with  obstinacy  ;  and 
being  put  to  the  torture  at  the  informer's  request,  she 
bore  the  severest  torments  of  the  rack  with  unshaken  con- 
stancy. But  what  is  most  remarkable  of  her  resolution 
is,  that  she  was  acquainted  with  all  the  particulars  of  the 
conspiracy;  and  although  Cherea  was  the  person  ap- 
pointed to  preside  at  her  torture,  she  revealed  nothing ; 
on  the  contrary,  when  she  was  led  to  the  rack,  she  trod 
upon  the  toe  of  one  of  the  conspirators,  intimating  at 
once  her  knowledge  of  the  confederacy,  and  her  own 
resolution  not  to  divulge  it.  In  this  manner  she  suffer- 
ed, until  all  her  limbs  were  dislocated  ;  and  in  that  de- 
plorable state  was  presented  to  the  emperor,  who  order- 
ed her  a  gratuity  for  what  she  had  suffered.  Cherea 
could  no  longer  contain  his  indignation  at  being  thus 
made  the  instrument  of  a  tyrant's  cruelty.  After  seve- 
ral deliberations  with  the  conspirators,  it  was  at  last  re- 
solved to  attack  him  during  the  continuance  of  the  Pa- 
latine games,  which  lasjed  four  days ;  and  to  strike  jlte 


200  THE  HISTORY  OF 

blow  when  his  guards  should  hfvc  the  least  opportunity 
to  defend  him.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  three  first 
days  of  the  games  it  affording  any  oppor- 

tunity.    Cherea  now  therefore  bt.  prehend,  that 

deferring  the  time  of  tl.  .  be  a  nu 

to  divulge  it ;  lie  c  :  the  honour 

of  killing  the  tyrant  might  fall  to  the  lot  of  some  other 
person  more  bold  than  I  efore,  he  I 

solved  to  defer  the  execution  of  his  plot  only  to  the  day 
following,  when  Caligula  should  ;  -:gh  a  pri 

y  to  some  baths  no  m  the  p. 

The  last  day  of  the  games  was  more    splendid 
the  rest,  and  Call  ;cd  more  sprightl) 

descending  tl.  lie  took      rcat  amusement  in 

seeing  the  people  scramble  for  the  fruits  and  other  . 
ties,  thn  !  no 

of  the  plot  formed  1 

In  t!  time  the  conspiracy  began  to  ti. 

and,  had  he   had  ,  s  left,  it   would  not  1:>; 

being  discovered, 
one  of  his  acquaintances  if  he  1 

-the  other  'hen  you  must 

know,"  says  he*  "  that  this  day  will  be  represented  the 
death  of  a  tyrant."  The  other  immediately  understood 
him,  but  desired  him  to  be  more  cautioL  di- 

vulged a  secret  of  so  much  i 

tors  •  part  of  tin  the  most  extreme 

anxiety  ;  and,  at  one  time,  C  enied  resolved  to 

spend  the  wi. 

unexpected  delay  entirely  exasperated  Che  had 

he  not  been  restrained,  he  would  have  gone  and  perpe- 
trated his  design  in  the  midst  of  all  the  people.     Ju 
that  instant,  while  he  was  yet  he-.  ;at  he  should 

do,  Asprenas,  one  of  the  conspirators,  persuaded  Cali- 
gula to  go  to  the  bath, and  take  some  slight  refreshment! 
in  order  to  enjoy  the  rest  of  the  en  u  -it  with  g; 

cr  relish.     The  emperor  therefore  rising  up,  tin 
rators  used  every  precaution  to  keep  eff  the  thr< 
to  surround  him,  under  pretence  of  great 
And  these,  upon  his  entering  into  a  little  vaulted  galle- 

>.at  leads  from  tlje  theatre  to  ihq  bath,  resolved  *0 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  201 

dispatch  him.  Cherea  §$st  struck  him  to  the  ground 
with  his  dagger,  crying  out,  u  Tyrant,  think  upon  this." 
Immediately  after  the  other  conspirators  rushed  in  ;  and 
while  die  emperor  continued  to  resist,  crying  out  that 
lie  was  not  yet  dead,  they  dispatched  him  with  thirty 
wounds. 

Such  was  the  merited  death  of  Cains  Caligula,  in  the 
twenty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  after  a  short  reign  of  three 
years,  ten  months,  and  eight  days.  It  will  be  unneces- 
sary to  add  any  thing  more  to  his  character  than  what 
Seneca  says  of  him,  namely,  that  nature  seemed  to  have 
brought  him  forth,  to  shew  what  was  possible  to  be  pro- 
duced from  the  greatest  vice,  supported  by  the  greatest 
authority. 

TT  c  As  soon  as  the  death  of  Caligula  was  made 
public,  it  produced  the  greatest  confusion  in 
A  1)  42  a^  Parts  °^  t'ic  c^y*  The  conspirators,  who 
'  only  aimed  at  destroying  a  tyrant  without  at- 
tending to  a  successor,  had  all  sought  safety  by  retiring 
to  private  places.  Some  soldiers  happening  to  run  about 
the  palace  discovered  Claudius,  Caligula's  uncle,  lurking 
in  a  secret  place,  where  he  had  hid  himself  through  fear. 
Of  this  persc-^ge,  who  had  hitherto  been  despised  for 
his  imbecility,  they  resolved  to  make  an  emperor,  and  ac- 
cordingly carried  him  upon  their  shoulders  to  the  camp, 
where  they  proclaimed  him,  at  a  time  he  expected  noth- 
ing but  death,  and  the  senate  confirmed  their  choice. 

Claudius  was  now  fifty  years  old  when  he  began  to 
reign.  The  complicated  diseases  of  jhis  infancy  had  in 
c  measure  affected  the  faculties  both  of  his  body 
and  mind.  He  was  continued  in  a  state  of  pupilage 
much  longer  thar  'vas  usual  at  that  time,  and  seemed  in 
every  part  of  life  incapable  of  conducting  himself. 

The  commencement  of  his  reign,  as  it  was  with  all 
the  other  bad  emperors,  gave  the  most  promising  hopes 
of  an  happy  continuance.  He  began  by  passing  an  art 
of  oblivion  for  all  former  words  and  actions,  and  dis- 
annulled all  the  cruel  edicts  of  Caligula.  He  shewed 
himself  more  moderate  than  his  predecessors  with  re- 
!  to  titles  and  honours.  He  forbade  all  persons  upon 
c  penalties,  to  sacrifice  to  him,  as  they  had  done  to 


THE  HISTORY 

Caligula.     lie  was  assiduous  in  hearing  and  e\ 
:'d  frequently  . 

mildness,  the  severity  of  strict 
i~e. 

To  1,  .  lc  for  the  intern:  ,;es  of  the 

I  that  of  a  watchful  -.ver  the 

nccs.     He  restored  Jude 

•  from   Hi  the 

man   who  had  put  John  the 
was 

ch  prim:  i  Iwd 

been  un; 

privcd  t:,  and   Hliodiai 

havinp,  prom<  :  cction,  and  crucified  s'.me  citi- 

:nc. 

lie  people  by  fou 
conquest  v^  had  for  near  an  hun 

I 

'/INC  cou:. 

one  !  >ersuade<! 

emperor  to  n^  upon  the  r 

ild  attend  the  cor, 
In  pursuance  of  his  advice,  then 
tor  v  ^  over  into  Gaul,  and  make  pre- 

that 

.villi'ig  to  mak  ;f.s  of 

ihey  .ons,  un- 

•hc  conduct  of  their  king  Cynobelinu- 
:  ihrown. 

These  successess  soon  after  induced  C 
us  to  j*o  i  on,  upon  pre^« 

th;r.  .ves  were  still  seditioir- 

not  delivered  up  some  Roman  f\ 
shelter  amonij  them.     IIo^  oxpeditioi 

i-ath^  show  than  service  :  the 

continued  in  Britain,  which 

more  taken  up  in  receiving  homacre  than  t 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  2g3 

i:is  conquests.  Great  rejoicings  were  made  upon  his 
return  to  Rome.  The  senate  decreed  him  asplendid  tri- 
umph ;  triumphal  arches  were  erected  to  his  honour,  and 
anmial  games  instituted  to  commemorate  his  victories. 
In  the  mean  time  war  was  vigorously  prosecuted  by  Plau- 
tius  and  his  lieutenant  Vespasian,  who,  according  to  Sue- 
tonius, fought  thirty  battles  with  the  enemy,  and  by  that 
means  reduced  a  part  of  the  island  into  the  form  of  a 
Roman  province.  However,  this  war  broke  out  afresh 
under  the  government  of  Ostorius.  who  suc- 
A.  D.  51.  ceededPlautius.  The  Britons  either  despis- 
ing him  for  want  of  experience,  or  hoping 
to  gain  advantages  over  a  person  newly  come  to  com- 
mand, rose  up  in  arms  and  disclaimed  the  Roman  power. 
The  Iceni,  the  Cangi,  and  the  Brigantes,  made  a  pow- 
erful resistance,  though  they  were  a*  length  overcome  ; 
but  the  Silurcs,  or  inhabitants  of  South  Wales,  under 
their  king  Caractacus,  were  the  most  formidable  oppo- 
nents the  Roman  generals  had  ever  yet  encountered. 
This  brave  barbarian  not  only  made  a  gallant  defence, 
but  often  seemed  to  claim  a  doubtful  victory.  He,  with 
at  conduct,  removed  the  seat  of  war  into  the  most 
inaccessible  parts  of  the  country,  and  for  nine  years  kept 
the  Romans  in  continual  alarm. 

This  general,  however,  upon  the  approach  of  Ostori- 
•iiuling  himself  obliged  to  come  to  a  decisive  engage- 
ment, addressed  his  countrymen  with  calm  resolution, 
.telling  them  that  this  battle  would  either  establish  their 
liberty,  or  confirm  their  servitude  :  that  they  ought  to 
remember  the  bravery  of  their  ancestors,  by  whose  va- 
lour they  were  delivered  from  taxes  and  tributes,  and 
I  this  was  the  time  to  shew  themselves  equal  to  their 
progenitors.     Nothing  however,  that  undisciplined  va- 
lour could  perform  could  avail  against  the  conduct  of 
the  Roman  legions.     After  an  obstinate  fight,  the  Bri- 
tons were  entirely  routed  ;  the  wife  and  daughter  of 
actacus  were  taken  prisoners  ;  and  he  himself,  seek- 
ing refuge  from  Cartismandua,  queen  of  the  Bnejantes, 
was  treacherously  given  up  to  the  conquerors.     When 
he  was  brought  to  Rome  nothing  could  exceed  the  curi- 
v  of  the  people  to  behold  a  man  who  had  for  so  many 


204  THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti; 

years  braved  the  power  of  the  empire.     On  his  pa' 
testified  no  marks  of  base  dejection  ;  but,  as  he  was  led 
through  the  .v  ;>pening  to  observe  the  splendour 

object  around  him.  .  he,  "  he 

possible  that  peopl'  •  cl  of  such  ir.ae 

"  at  home,  could  think  .  .um- 

•*  ble  cottage  in  B;  bc- 

fore  the  emperor,  \\hile  the  othc 

with  the  most  ubji  .cus  stood  be- 

fore the  tribunal  with  an  in;:  <tker 

willing  to  accept  of  pardon,  than  nit  •»   of 

•  rii-dhc,'  >  speech, 

"  I  i  \imcdiately,  i.nd  without  opposition, 

.ne  would  have  been  iti  .  nor 

v  ^lory  mtMnorablt  0  be 

11  fore  you  spaic  TI. 

i,   the 
highest  h-  (  soon  be- 

il    tO 

.11  the  o>  ;ljc  enipi: 

and  now,  \\hcn  called 

hut  unde:  in- 

beco,  .mon  appellation  1 

By  her  was  Clau  lius  urged  on  to  co:, 

hile 
debaucheries  b< 

herlewdness< 

llercrijues  a:idcnormi 

:cd,  she,  together  with  her  ; 
suflercd  th  o  justly  d 

lius  took    for  his  sec*.; 
daughter  of  his  brother  ' 

1  ambitious  spirit,  whose  \\: 

the  succession  for  I  :  son  by  :« 


KMPIRE  OF  ROME.  206 

riage,  treated  Claudius  with  such  haughtiness,  that  he 
was  heard  to  declare,  when  heated  with  wine,  that  it  was 
his  fate  to  suffer  the  disorders  of  his  wives,  and  to  be  their 
executioner.  This  expression  sunk  deep  on  her  mind, 
and  engaged  all  her  faculties  to  prevent  the  blow.  She, 
therefore,  resolved  not  to  defer  a  criiife  which  she  had 
meditated  a  long  while  before,  which  was  to  poison  him 
She  for  some  time,  however,  debated  with  herself  in 
what  manner  she  should  administer  the  poison,  as  she 
feared  too  strong  a  dose  would  discover  her  treachery, 
and  one  too  weak  might  fail  of  its  effect.  At  length  she 
determined  upon  a  poison  of  singular  efficacy,  to  destroy 
his  intellects,  and  yet  not  suddenly  to  terminate  his  life. 
As  she  had  been  long  conversant  in  this  horrid  practice, 
she  applied  to  a  woman  called  Locusta,  notorious  for 
assisting  on  such  occasions.  The  poison  was  given  the 
emperor  among  mushrooms,  a  dish  he  was  particularly- 
fond  of.  Shortly  after  having  eaten  he  dropped  down 
insensible  ;  but  this  caused  no  alarm,  as  it  was  usual  for 
him  to  sit  eating  till  he  had  stupined  ail  his  faculties,  and 
was  obliged  to  be  carried  off  to  his  bed  from  the  table. 
However,  his  constitution  seemed  to  overcome  the  ef- 
fects of  the  poison,  when  Agrippina  resolved  to  make 
sure  of  him  ;  wherefore  she  directed  a  wretched  physi- 
cian, who  was  her  creature,  to  thrust  a  poisoned  feather 
down  his  throat,  under  pretence  of  making  him  vomit, 
and  this  dispatched  him. 

U  C  793  Nero,  though  but  seventeen  years  of  age, 
\  D  55  began  h*s  re*gn  w*tn  tne  general  approbation 
of  mankind.  He  appeared  just,  liberal,  and 
humane  :  when  a  warrant  for  the  execution  of  a  crimi- 
nal was  brought  him  to  be  signed,  he  was  heard  to  cry 
out,  with  seeming  concern,  u  Would  to  heaven  that  I 
had  never  learned  to  write  !" 

But  as  he  increased  in  years,  his  crimes  seemed  to  in~ 
i  in  equal  proportion.  The  execution  of  his  own 
mother  Agrippina  was  the  first  alarming  instance  he  gave 
of  his  cruelty.  Having  attempted  to  get  her  drowned 
at  sea,  failing  in  this,  he  ordered  her  to  be  put  to  death 
in  her  palace  j  and  coming  in  pe«on  to  gaze  upon  the 


THi;  HISTORY  OF  Till. 

trcl  to  say,  that  he  never  thought  his 
mother  had  l>een  so  handsome. 

All  ihe   Ixjunds   oi"  virtue  being  thus  broken  down, 

not 

id  but  inhun:  odd  con- 

ruclties, 

whi<  *o  make   the  mind  shudder  with 

u  fond  oi  fien 

and    n.-finc    the  heart. 

lit  of  poetry  ;  but  chariot  d; : 
pursuit  ;  and  all  these  he  frtvjuti 
in  pi.: 

But  ppy  for  mankind  had  he  confined 

ties 

•  led  to  one  ot 

. 

became  the    husband  oi 

he   I  of  the    marks  ct 

.n    hi^  time  ;   and  BIOS!   historiar,- 
lU^ration  to  him.  :  that  he  stood  upo 

rin^  the  coiitinuance  of  the 

in  a  players  habit,  i 
.ner,  SOIIM  ipon  the  destruction 

v.     As  a  proof  of  his  ^u^1  upon  this  occasion,  none 

itii)£  the  f. 

:he  empc 

ry  art  to  tlirow  the   odium  of  so  clt  lion 

.  and  to  fix  it  upon  the  Cl.  A  ho 

at  that  time  -'oundin  Rome. 

more    dreadful  than    the  perse 
.ist  ihcm  upon  this  false  accusntion.     So:. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  207 

covered  with  the  skins  of  wild  beasts,  and  in  that  figure 
devoured  by  dogs.  Some  were  crucified,  and  others 
burnt  alive.  "  When  the  day  was  not  sufficient  for  their 
"  tortures,"  says  Tacitus,"  "  the  flames  in  which  they 
"  perished  served  to  illuminate  the  night ;"  while  Nero, 
dressed  in  the  habit  of  a  charioteer,  regaled  himself  with 
their  tortures  from  his  gardens,  and  entertained  the  peo- 
ple at  one  time  with  their  sufferings,  at  another  with 
the  games  of  the  circus.  In  this  persecution  St.  Paul 
beheaded,  and  St.  Peter  was  crucified  with  his  head 
•uvards  ;  which  death  he  chose,  as  being  more  dis- 
honourable than  that  of  his  Divine  Master. 

A  conspiracy  formed  against  Nero  by  Piso,  a  man  of 
great  power  and  integrity,  which  was  prematurely  dis- 
covered, opened  a  new  train  of  suspicion  that  destroyed 
many  of  the  principal  families  in  Rome.  The  two  most 
remark-able  personages  who  fell  on  this  occasion  were 
Seneca  the  philosopher,  and  Lucan  the  poet,  who  was 
his  nephew.  Nero,  either  having  real  testimony  against 
him,  or  else  hating  him  for  his  virtues,  sent  a  tribune 
to  Seneca,  informing  him  that  he  was  suspected  as  an 
accomplice.  The  tribune  found  the  philosopher  at  ta- 
ble with  Paulina  his  wife,  and  informing  him  of  his  bu- 
siness, Seneca  replied  without  any  emotion,  that  his  wel- 
fare depended  upon  no  man  ;  that  he  had  never  been 
accustomed  to  indulge  the  errors  of  the  emperor,  and 
would  not  do  it  now.  When  this  answer  was  brought 
to  Nero,  he  demanded  whether  Seneca  seemed  afraid  to 
die.  The  tribune  replying  that  he  did  not  appear  in  the 
least  terrified  ;  "  Then  go  to  him  again,"  cried  the  em- 
peror, "  and  give  him  my  orders  to  die."  Accordingly 
he  sent  a  centurion  to  Seneca,  signifying  that  it  was 
the  emperor's  pleasure  that  he  should  die.  Seneca  seem- 
ed no  way  discomposed,  and  was  not  unmindful  of  his 
<  onstanry.  lie  endeavoured  to  console  his  wife  for  his 
loss,  and  exhort  her  to  a  life  of  persevering  virtue.  But 
she  seemed  resolved  on  not  surviving  him,  and  pressed 
her  request  to  die  with  him  so  earnestly,  that  Seneca, 
who  had  long  looked  upon  death  as  a  benefit,  at  last 
gave  his  consent,  and  the  veins  of  both  their  arms  were 
opened  at  the  same  time.  As  Seneca,  was  old  and  much 


THE  HISTORY  BE 

enfeebled  by  the  austerities  of  his  life,  the  blood  fir 
•.  he  caused  the  veins  of  bis  legs 
•  be  opened  also.     His  p.-.ins  were  Ioin.r 

o  not  capable  of  rt  his  forti- 

tude or  his  eloquence.     He  dictated  • 
secretaries,  which  .  \\ith  gn.  •  his 

death  by  the  ;  .*.  which  1. 

wreck  of  thru  onics  being  now  drawn  out 

ilcd  of  its  effect,  h; 

already  t  '   incapable  of  exci: 

lion.     He  wits  froi, 
onl>  nd  ;  at  le; 

was  he  vapou; 

In  the  mean  time,  his 

havi  ,>on  with  the  loss  of  blood. 

her  her  domestics,  and  by  this  means 

ived  her  her  con- 

duct during  t!  er  life,  she  seemed  alwi. 

ful  o!  ;>lc. 

.;»  not  le.s- 
veins  of  his  a:  iter  he  had  lo 

if  blood,  pcrcci  !  legs  already 

dead,  while  th-  :  :s  still  c< 

orous,  he  called  to  mind  a  description  in  his  own  poem 
ofti 

•stances,  and  expired  while  he  was  repeatii 
ful  p. 

ut  vulncrc  san. 

t  undique  \ 

'•  Tradiilil  in  • 

"  I! 

Th:  iiiius  about  this  time  is 

V'  J  r'cc- 

y  modem  his;- 
ork  of  no  great  n 
.till  remaining,  was  an  ! 

ious 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  2Q9 

a  court  as  that  of  Nero,  he  was  particularly  noted  for 
his  refinements  in  luxury.  He  was  accused  of  being 
privy  to  Piso's  conspiracy,  and  committed  to  prison. 
Petronius  could  not  endure  the  anxiety  of  suspence,- 
wherefore  he  resolved  upon  putting  himself  to  death, 
which  he  performed  in  a  manner  entirely  similar  to  that 
in  which  he  had  lived.  He  opened  his  veins,  and  then 
closed  them  as  he  thought  least  painful,  with  the  utmost 
cheerfulness  and  tranquility.  He  conversed  with  his 
friends,  not  upon  maxims  of  philosophy*  or  grave  sub- 
jects, but  upon  such  topics  as  had  amused  his  gayest  re- 
vels. He  listened  while  they  recited  the  lightest  poems, 
and  by  no  action,  no  word  nor  circumstance,  shewed  the 
perplexity  of  a  dying  person.  Shortly  after  him,  Numi- 
cius  Thermus  was  put  to  death,  as  likewise  Barea,  Sora- 
nus,  and  Paetus  Thrasea.  The  destroying  the  two  last 
Tacitus  calls  an  attack  upon  virtue  itself.  Thrasea  died 
in  the  midst  of  his  friends  and  philosophers,  conversing 
and  reasoning  on  the  nature  of  the  soul.  His  wife,  who 
was  the  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Arria,  was  desirous 
of  following  her  mother's  example,  but  he  dissuaded  her 
from  it.  The  death  of  the  valiant  Corbulo,  who  had 
gained  Nero  so  many  victories  over  the  Parthians,  fol- 
lowed next.  Nor  did  the  empressPoppea  herself  escape, 
whom,  in  a  fit  of  anger,  he  kicked  when  she  was  preg- 
nant, by  which  she  miscarried  and  died.  At  length  hu- 
man nature  grew  weary  of  bearing  her  persecutor,  and 
the  whole  world  seemed  to  rouse,  as  if  by  common  con- 
sent, to  rid  the  earth  of  a  monster. 

Scrgius  Galba,  who  was  at  that  time  governor  of  Spain, 
was  remarkable  for  his  wisdom  in  peace,  and  his  courage 
m  war  ;  but  as  all  talents  under  corrupt  princes  are  dan- 
gerousi  he  for  some  years  hau  seemed  willing  to  court 
obscurity,  giving  himself  up  to  an  inactive  life,  and 
avoiding  all  opportunity  of  signalizing  his  valour. 

But  willing  to  rid  his  country  of  a  monster,  he  accept- 
ed the  invitation  of  Vindex  to  march  with  an  army  to- 
wards Rome.  The  reputation  of  that  general  was  such, 
that,  from  the  moment  he  declared  against  Nero,  the  ty- 
rant considered  himself  as  undone.  He  received  the  ac- 
count as  he  was  at  supper,  and  instantly  struck  with  ter 
S  2 


Hi  \    OF  Ti 

ror,  -  iih  his  foot, 

chry  i'.nmensc  value.      He  the*  fell  into   a 

swoon,  from  \vhi<  iu  \vhcn  he  recovered,    he  lure 

u  uti  ;ic."     He  no-,  ailed  for  Lo- 

cusiaio  furnish  hi,  ;   and  thu- 

the  worst,  he  retired  to 

solution  of  flying  into  i 

and  the  revolt  bcromii. 

from  house  to  hou  the  door *• 

him,  ami  re  found  to  answer  I 

hin>  d  to 

cd   i  But 

:1   him,   IM 

and 
Mkc 
hU 

Ln  t  ihon,  one  of  i 

him  use,  -obi 

he  IT. 
cxl  his  ofter,  and  i 

mounlec: 

-shorn  the  \vrctchc' 
thouph  short,  was  crou 

ii-om 

Round  him  he  beard 
nothing  but  confused  noises  from  the 
of  the  s-  Bating  a  thousand  evils  upon  his 

head.     A  passenger  meeting  him  on  tl.i 

iicre  go  men  in  pur^ui;  "     Another  asked 

him  if  there  wasany  ne\vsof  Nero  in  the  city  Hib  horse 
taking  fright  at  a  dead  body  that  lay  on  the  road,  he 
dropped  his  handkerchief ;  and  a  soldier  who  was  near 
addressed  him  by  .icrefore,  quitted  his 

horse,  and  fo:  .y,  entered  a  t): 

the  back  part  of  Pahon's  housei  thr 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  211 

which  he  crept,  making  the  best  of  his  way  among  the 
reeds  and  brambles,  with  which  the  place  was  over- 
grown. During  this  interval  the  senate,  finding  the 
praetorian  guards  had  taken  part  with  Galba,  declared 
him  emperor,  and  condemned  Nero  to  die,  <c  more  ma- 
jorum  ;"  that  is,  according  to  the  rigour  of  the  ancient 
laws.  When  he  was  told  of  the  resolution  of  the  senate 
against  him,  he  asked  the  messenger  what  was  meant  by 
Ucing  punished  according  to  the  rigour  of  the  ancient 
laws  ?  to  this  he  was  answered,  that  the  criminal  was  to 
be  stripped  naked,  his  head  was  to  be  fixed  in  a  pillory, 
and  in  that  posture  he  was  to  be  scourged  to  death.  Nero 
was  so  terrified  at  this,  that  he  seized  two  poignards 
which  he  had  brought  with  him,  and  examining  their 
points,  returned  them  to  their  sheaths,  pretending  that 
the  fatal  moment  was  not  yet  arrived.  He  then  desired 
Sporus  to  begin  the  lamentations  which  were  used  at 
funerals  :  he  next  entreated  that  some  of  his  attendants 
would  die,  to  give  him  courage  by  his  example  ;  and  af- 
terwards began  to  reproach  his  own  cowardice,  crying 
out,  "  Does  this  become  Nero  ?  is  this  trifling  well  tim- 
ed ?"  "  No,  no,  let  me  be  courageous."  In  fact  he  had 
no  time  to  spare,  for  the  soldiers  who  had  been  sent  in 
pursuit  of  him  were  just  then  approaching  the  house  ; 
wherefore,  hearing  the  sound  of  the  horses  feet,  he  seta 
er  to  his  throat,  with  which,  by  the  assistance  of 
[)hroditus,  his  freed  man,  and  secretary,  he  gave  him- 
self a  mortal  wound.  However,  he  was  not  yet  quite 
dead  when  one  of  the  centurions  entering  the  room  and 
pretending  he  came  to  his  relief,  attempted  to  stop  the 
blood  with  his  cloak.  But  Nero  regarding  him  with  a 
stern  countenance,  said  "  It  is  now  too  late.  Is  this 
"  your  fidelity  ?"  Upon  which,  with  his  eyes  fixed,  and 
frightfully  staring,  he  expired,  even  in  death  a  ghastly 
spectacle  of  innoxious  tyranny. 

He  reigned  thirteen  years,  seven  months,  and  twen- 
ty-eight days,  and  died  in  the  thirty-second  year  of  his 
age. 

U  C  821        Galba  was  seventy-two  years  old  when  he 

\  D    69    was  Declared  emperor,  and  was  then  in  Spain 

with  his  legions,     However,  he  soon  found 


2*2  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

that  his  being  raised  to  the  throne  was  but  an  inlr 
disquietudes.     He  seemed  to  have  three  objec •; 
I  o  curb  the  insolence  of  the  soldiers,  to  pi 
thosi  ilich  had  come  to  an  enormous  height  in 

the  last  reign,  and  to  replenish   the  exchequer,  which 
had   been  quite  drainc  is  prede- 

cessors.    However,  permitting  '  governed 

by  I  .  he  at  one  time  she 

(rug.  aher  remiss    and 

ic  illustrious  p. 

donr  -  though  guilty.     In  cc 

many  seditions  we  pro- 

od  in  difu  11  of  the  empire,  but  particu. 

ncd  of  these  commotions,  was  sen- 
sible 

:i  heir.      li  cd  therefore  to  put  what  lu 

;>mc  per- 
son v- 

c  from   f] 

uncK  1  on 

givi  i  bcir  of  their  here 

aro^u  I  contention  amor- 

sion.     Otho  made 
ing  the  great  .d  done  the  en:  s  be- 

.d  declared  a.- 

fully  resolved  to  consult  the  ; 
his  suit  ;  and 

nus  •  ie  charac- 

of  Pi  he  was  every  way  wor  c  honour 

designed 

•it  merit  to  recommend  him  to 
i.s  youth  therefore  by  the  hand, 
in  the  presence  of  his  friends,  he  adopted  him  to  suc^ 
in  the  empire,  giving  him  the  most  wholesome  lessons 
for  guidi-  onduct.     Piso's  conduct  she 

that  he  was  highly  :  this  distinction  ;  in  all  his 

deportment  there  appeared  such  modesty,  firnu 
equality  of  mind,  as  bespoke  him  rather  capable  of  dis- 
^ing  than  ambitious  of  obtaining  his  present  digni- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  213 

ly.  But  the  army  and  the  senate  did  not  seem  equally 
disinterested  upon  this  occasion  ;  they  had  been  so  long 
used  to  bribery  and  corruption,  that  they  could  now 
bear  no  emperor  who  was  not  in  a  capacity  of  satisfying 
their  avarices.  The  adoption  therefore  of  Piso  was  but 
coldly  received ;  for  his  virtues  were  no  recommendation 
in  a  nation  of  universal  depravity. 

Oiho,  who  had  long  been  a  favourite  of  Galba,  and 
1  loping  to  be  adopted  his  successor  in  the  empire,  find- 
ing his  hopes  disappointed,  and  still  further  stimulated 
by  the  immense  load  of  debts  which  he  had  contracted 
by  his  riotous  way  of  living,  resolved  upon  obtaining 
the  empire  by  force,  since-  he  could  not  by  peaceable 
succession.  Having  corrupted  the  fidelity  of  the  sol- 
diers, he  stole  secretly  from  the  emperor  while  he  was 
sacrificing;  and  assembling  the  soldiers, in  a  short  speech, 
urged  the  cruelties,  and  the  avarice  of  Galba.  Finding 
theinvectives  received  with  universal  shouts  by  the  whole 
army,  he  entirely  threw  off  the  mask,  and  avowed  his 
intentions  of  dethroning  him.  The  soldiers,  being  ripe 
for  sedition,  immediately  seconded  his  views :  and  taking 
Otho  upon  their  shoulders  immediately  declared  him 
emperor  ;  and,  to  strike  the  citizens  with  terror,  carried 
him  with  their  swords  drawn,  into  the  camp. 

Soon  after,  finding  the  emperor  in  some  measure  de~ 
,  cl  by  his  adherents,  the  soldiers  rushed  in  upon  him, 
trampling  the  crowds  of  people  that  then  filled  the  forum 
under  foot.  Galba,  seeing  them  approach,  seemed  to 
recollect  all  his  former  fortitude  ;  and  bending  his  head 
forward,  bid  the  assassins  strike  it  off  if  it  were  for  the 
i  of  the  people.  This  was  quickly  performed  ;  and 
his  head  being  set  upon  the  point  of  a  lunce,  was  present- 
ed to  Otho,  who  ordered  it  to  be  contemptuously  carried 
round  the  camp,  his  body  remaining  unburied  in  the 
streets,  till  it  was  interred  by  one  of  his  slaves. 

He  died  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age,  A.  D.  69, 
after  a  short  reign  of  seven  months  ;  as  illustrious  by  his 
own  virtues  as  it  was  contaminated  by  the  vices  of  his 
favourites,  who  shared  in  his  downfall. 

Otho,  who  was  now  elected  emperor  began  his  reign 
by  a  signal  instance  of  clemency  in  pardoning  Marius 


2U  THE  HISTORY  OF  THL 

Celsus,  who  had  been  highly  favoured  by  Galba  ; 
not  contented  with  barely  forgiving,  hi  -_d  him  to 

ihe  highest  honou: 

In  the  nieun  time,  the  legions  in  Lower  Germany, 
having  been  purchased  by  the  large  cjift^ 

of  Vitellius  their  j^enc: 
ccd  '  -n    him  t 

sen  :. dared,  t!  lit  to  ap- 

point to  that  high  sf.  '.i  the  cohorts  ;•/ 

:  from  Ro 
tcllius  battle.    Tlu  'vhich  co: 

n  or- 

restofhi  icn- 

pre- 

i,  that  three  consideraljlc  bat1 
the  space  of  three 

near  Cremona,  and  at1  stor  ;  iu 

all  :id   the  Rom; 

But  •  ;c  but  of  short  lived  coir 

for  \ 

with  fresli   s; 

ly  over- 
.    him  self  shortly  after 

was  imt. 
).  70.  enr 

of  Accustomed  to 

iollo  idc. 

Upr:  Home,  1  not  a? 

c  came  u  justice,  but  as  a  t 

s  become  conquest, 

lius  soon  ip  to  all  kinds  of  \\ 

profuscQess  ;  but  phut' 
that  he  brought  himself  to  an  habit  ot 
to  be  able  to  t 
tainments.  though  sclciom  at  his  own  cost,  we; 

itcd  himself  to  the 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  215 

L-S  of  his  subjects,  breakfasting  with  one,  dining  with 
another,  and  supping  with  a  third,  all  in  the  same  day. 

By  the  continuance  of  such  vices,  added  to  enormous 
cruelties,  he  became  not  only  a  burden  to  himself,  but 
odious  to  all  mankind.  Thus,  having  become  insup- 
portable to  the  inhabitants  of  Rome,  the  legions  of  the 
east,  who  had  at  first  acquiesced  in  his  dominions,  began 
to  revolt,  and  shortly  after  unanimously  resolved  to  make 
Vespasian  emperor. 

During  the  preparations  against  him,  Vitellius.  though 
buried  in  sloth  and  luxury,  was  resolved  to  make  an  effort 
to  defend  the  empire  ;  wherefore,  his  chief  command- 
ers, Valens  and  Cecinna,  were  ordered  to  make  all  pos- 
sible preparations  to  resist  the  invaders.  The  first  arrny 
thutjentewed  Italy,  with  a  hostile  intention,  was  under 
the  command  of  Antonius  Piimus,  who  was  met  by 
Cecinna  near  Cremona.  A  battle  was  expected  to  en- 
sue, but  a  negockuion  taking  place,  Cecinna  was  prevail-? 
ed  upon  to  change  sides,  and  declare  for  Vespasian. 
His  army  however  quickly  repented  of  what  they  ha$ 
done,  and,  imprisoning  their  general,  attacked  Antonius, 
though  without  a  Icuder.  The  engagement  continued 
.Mg  the  whole  night  ;  and  in  the  morning  after  a 
Vnort  repast, both  armies  engaged  a  second  time;  when 
the  soldiers  of  Antonius,  saluting  the  rising  sun,  accord- 
ing to  custom,  the  Viteiliuns  supposing  that  they  had 
received  new  reinforcements  betook  themselves  to 
flight,  with  the  loss  of  thirty  thousand  men. 

In  the  mean  time,  Vitellius,  who  was  wallowing  in  all 
Is  of  luxury  and  excess,  made  offers  to  Vespasian  of 
resigning  the  empire,  provided  his  life  was  spared,  and 
a  sufficient  revenue  allowed  for  his  support.  In  order 
to  enforce  this  request  he  issued  from  his  palace  in  deep 
mourning,  with  all  his  domestics  weeping  around  him. 
He  then  went  to  offer  the  swore)  of  justice  to  Cecilius  the 
-ul,  which  lie  refusing,  the  abject  emperor  prepared 
to  lay  down  the  ensigns  of  empire  in  the  temple  of  Con- 
cord ;  but  being  interrupted  by  some  who  cried  out  that 
he  himself  was  Concord,  he  re  olved  upon  so  weak  an 
encouragement,  still  to  maintain  his  power,  and  imme- 
diately prepared  for  his  defence. 


ilSTORV  Ol 

;iis  fluctuation  of  counsels;  oneSabim: 
liacl  :^n,  perct 

1  upon  th  But  he 

premature  in  hi*  attempt  ;  for  the  s><  ilius 

him  with  threat   tury,  ; 
nun 

During  this    dreadful  <  :casl- 

ini;  in  the  palace  of  Ti  '1  the  lior- 

•^liiilt  wit!. 

take  r,  and    shortly 

peror's  command.     Vouncc  who 

\?as  aped  by  flight  in  the  i 

•:d  all  the  rest  who  the  tire 

put  to  U.i 

Hut  u'scomni 

!>eforc  the  walls  <•  ,  re- 

I 
u  v  (I  a  whole 

i  ^ed  were  driven  into  t! 
tire  :l  the  streets  which 

fron 

soldi  -tr.  will! i. 

mo'.< 

• 

en- 
soldiers  bindii 

him,  and  thr  him 

if  naked  into  the  pi  ;im, 

as  tl.  cdtd,  v'n 

ice  could  - 

,ent,  they 

I  d   him   v  the 

1  body  through  the 

'1  emperor   by 

the  unanimous  consent  both  of  i 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  2U 

the  army,  and  dignified  with  all  those  titles  which  now 
followed  rather  the  power  than  the  merit  of  those  who 
were  appointed  to  govern. 

Having  continued  some  months  at  Alexandria,  in 
Egypt,  where  it  is  said  he  cured  a  blind  and  a  lame  man 
by  touching  them,  he  set  out  for  Rome,  giving  his  son 
Titus  the  command  of  the  army,  that  was  to  lay  siege 
to  Jerusalem,  while  he  himself  went  forward,  and  was 
met  many  miles  from  Rome  by  all  the  senate,  and  near 
half  the  inhabitants,  who  gave  the  sincerest  testimonies 
of  their  joy  in  having  an  emperor  of  such  great  and  ex- 
perienced virtues.  Nor  did  he  in  the  least  disappoint 
their  expectations,  being  equally  assiduous  in  rewarding 
merit  and  pardoning  his  adversaries,  in  reforming  the 
manners  of  the  citizens,  and  setting  them  the  best  exam- 
ple in  his  own. 

In  the  mean  time,  Titus  carried  on  the  war  against 
the  Jews  with  vigour.  This  obstinate  and  infatuated 
people  had  long  resolved  to  resist  the  Roman  power, 
vainly  hoping  to  find  protection  from  Heaven,  which 
their  impieties  had  utterly  offended.  Their  own  historian 
represents  them  as  arrived  at  the  highest  pitch  of  iniqui- 
ty, while  famines,  earthquakes,  and  prodigies,  all  con- 
spired to  forewarn  their  approaching  ruin.  Nor  was  it 
sufficient  that  heaven  and  earth  seemed  combined  against 
them  ,  they  had  the  most  bitter  dissentions  among  them- 
selves, and  were  split  into  two  parties,  that  robbed  and 
destroyed  each  other  with  impunity,  still  pillaging,  and 
at  the  same  time  boasting  their  zeal  for  the  religion  of 
their  ancestors. 

At  the  head  of  one  of  these  parties  was  an  incendiary 
whose  name  was  John.  This  tanatic  affected  sovereign 
power,  and  filled  the  whole  city  of  Jerusalem,  and  all 
the  towns  around  with  tumult  and  pillage.  In  a  short 
time,  a  new  faction  arose,  headed  by  one  Simon,  who 
gathering  together  multitudes  of  robbers  and  murderers 
who  had  fled  to  the  mountains,  attacked  many  cities 
and  towns,  and  reduced  all  Idumea  into  his  power, 
Jerusalem  at  length  became  the  theatre  in  which  these 
two  demagogues  began  to  exercise  their  mutual  ani- 
T 


218  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

rnosity  ;  John  was  possessed  of  the  temple 
Admitted  into  the  city,  both  equally  ci. 
each  other,    while  slaughter  and  dt 

.:•  pretensions.     Th  ny,  formerly  celebrated 

e  and  unity,  become  the  scat  of  tumult  and 
confu- 

•ion  that  Titus  beg, 
opcr  ngsoftlu 

ue  multitude  of  the  people,  *ho 
•  omefroi;  catsolenu 

The  approach  of  the  Romans  product 

ctween  the  contending  fattiv 
:hey  unanimoi  -o  oppose  the 

.  decide  theirdome 

more  conn 

be- 

into 

. 

lie  desire  of  j  .     A  tui 

]  both   p;. 

vfcri  manner,  upoi 

fi-on  us  of  J(.i 

ry  side,  except  w! 

tus  began  by  b.merim;  down  the  outward 
or,  he  effected 

then 

the  commencement  oi 

the  second  wall  ;  and  though  driven  hack  by  the  ' 

he  recovered  his  ground,  and  made  preparation  io: 

terinp:  the  third  wall, 

Bat  first,  he  sent  Josephus,  their  countryman. 

city  to  exhort  thetn  to  yield  ;  v  g  all  his  etc- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  219 

Alienee  to  persuade  them,  was  only  reviled  with  scoffs 
and  reproaches.  The  siege  was  now  therefore  carried 
on  with  greater  vigour  than  before  ;  several  batteries 
for  engines  were  raised,  which  were  no  sooner  built  than 
destroyed  by  the  enemy.  At  length  it  was  resolved  in 
council  to  surround  the  whole  city  with  a  trench,  and 
thus  prevent  all  relief  and  succours  from  abroad.  This, 
which  was  quickly  executed,  seemed  no  way  to  intimi- 
date the  Jews.  Though  famine,  and  pestilence,  its  ne- 
cessary attendant,  began  to  make  the  most  horrid  rava- 
ges among  them,  yet  this  desperate  people  still  resolved 
to  hold  out.  He  now  cut  down  all  the  woods  within  a 
considerable  distance  of  the  city,  and  causing  more  bat- 
teries to  be  raised,  he  at  length  battered  down  the  wall, 
and  in  five  days  entered  the  citadel  by  force.  The 
Jews,  however,  continued  to  deceive  themselves  with 
absurd  and  false  expectations,  while  many  false  prophets 
deluded  the  multitude,  declaring  they  should  soon  have 
assistance  from  God.  The  heat  of  the  battle  was  now 
therefore,  gathered  round  the  inner  wall  of  the  temple, 
•while  the  defendants  desperately  combated  from  the  top. 
Titus  was  willing  to  save  this  beautiful  structure  ;  but 
a  soldier  casting  a  brand  into  some  adjacent  buildings, 
ths  fii'ti  c-jiMtiiimicateu  to  the  temple  ;  and  notwithstand- 
ing the  utmost  endeavours  on  both  sides,  the  edifice  was 
quickly  consumed.  The  sight  of  their  temple  in  ruins, 
effectually  served  to  damp  the  ardour  of  the  Jews.  They 
now  began  to  perceive  that  heaven  had  forsaken  them, 
while  their  cries  and  lamentations  echoed  from  the  ad- 
jacent mountains  Even  those  who  were  almost  expir- 
ing lifted  up  their  dying  eyes  to  bewail  the  loss  of  their 
temple,  which  they  valued  more  than  life  itself.  The. 
most  resolute,  however,  still  endeavoured  to  defend  the 
upper  and  stronger  part  of  the  city,  named  Sion  ;  but 
Titus,  with  his  battering  engines,  soon  made  himself 
entire  master  of  the  place.  John  and  Simon  were  taken 
from  the  vaults  where  they  had  concealed  themselves ; 
the  former  was  condemned  to  perpetual  imprisonment, 
a^-cl  the  latter  reserved  to  grace  the  conqueror's  triumph. 
The  greatest  part  of  the  populace  were  put  to  the  sword, 
the  city  was,  after  a  six  month's  siege,  entirely  razed 


220  THE  mSTORY  OF  THE 

lie  plough  i  so  lhat,  according  to  our  Saviour's  ppo- 
phccy,   not  one   stone  remained  upon   another, 
numbers  who  perished  in  this  siege,  according  to  J 
phus,  amounted  to  above  a  million  of  souls,  and  the  cap- 
to  almost  a  hundred  thousand 
n  the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  his  soldiers  would  have 
Thus  as  a  conqueror,  but  he  modestly  refused 
thelionour, alledgin^  that  he  was  onU  ,t  in 

:he  !  bat  manik 

nst  the  Jt  Home,  however, all  i  uths 

iscs  of  the  conqueror,  who  had 
•>hewn  himself  an  excellent  general,  but  a  cou- 
(jus  combatant  :  his  return,  therefore,  hi  triur 
li  he  did  with  his  father,  was  m>  h  all  the 

nificence  and  joy  lhat  was  in  the  power  of  men  to 
All  things   that  were  esteemed  valuable  or 
beautiful  am<  •-  to  adorn  this  v 

:  the  rich  spoils  were   exp 

. 

gftheH'  is  not  the  leas-  :  the 

cnt  profu- 

;.d  the  son  triumph  together.     A 
triur  erected  upon  this  occas. 

were  J  all  the  '  'cWSi 

whit  e  to  this  \ 

nple  to  Peace,  whc  c  de- 

nost  of  the  Jewish  spoils  ;    and  having  now 

il  commotions  in  e^  .  he 

shut  up  the  temple  ot  J  d  been  open  about 

• 

i  tter  character  from 
numerous  ac1 

ice.     He 

descended  to  some  very  unusual  and  dishonourable  im- 
post 
son  Titus  remonstra'ted  against  the  meanness  of  si 

:  a  piece  of  money,  der^ 
the  smrl!  offended 

ending,  having  reigned  ten  years,  loved  by 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME,  224 

Iris  subjects,  and  deserving  their  affection,  he  was  sur- 
prised with  an  indisposition  at  Campania,  which  from 
the  beginning  he  declared  would  be  fatal ;  and  perceiv- 
ing his  end  approaching,  as  he  was  just  going  to  expire, 
he  cried  out,  that  an  emperor  ought  to  die  standing  ; 
wherefore,  raising  himselfupon<his  feet,  he  expired  in 
the  hands  of  those  that?  susfeined  him. 
\  D  79  Titus  being  joyfully  received  as  emperor, 
began  to  reign  with  the  practice  df  every 
virtue  that  became  a  sovereign  and  a  man.  During  the 
life  of  his  father,  there  had  been  many  imputations 
against  him,  both  for  cruelty,  lust  and  prodigality  ;  but 
upon  his  exaltation  te  the  throne,  he  seemed  entirely  to 
take  leave  of  his  former  vices,  and  became  an  example 
of  the  greatest  moderation  and  humanity.  His  first  step 
-.rds  gaining  the  affections  of  his  subjects,  was  his 
moderating  his  passions,  and  bridling  his  strong  inclina- 
tions. He  had  long  loved  Bemice,  sister  to  Agrippa, 
king  of  Judea,  a  woman  of  the  greatest  beauty  and  the 
most  refined  allurements.  But  knowing  that  the  connec- 
tion with  her  was  entirely  disagreeable  to  the  people  of 
Rome,  he  gained  a  victory  over  his  affections,  and  sent 
her  away,  notwithstanding  their  mutual  passion,  and  the 
many  arts  she  used  to  induce  him  to  change  his  resolu- 
tions. He  next  discarded  all  those  who  had  been  the 
former  ministers  of  his  pleasures,  and  forbore  to  coun- 
tenance the  companions  of  his  looser  recreations,  though 
Pie  had  formerly  taken  great  pains  in  the  selection. 
This  moderation,  added  to  his  justice  and  generosity, 
procured  him  the  love  of  all  good  men,  and  the  appel- 
lation of  the  delight  of  mankind*-  which  all  his  actions 
seemed  calculated  to  ensure. 

Titus  took  particular  care  to  punish  all  informers,  false 
witnesses,  and  promoters  of  dissention.  Those  wretches, 
who  had  their  rise  in  the  licentiousness  and  impurity  of 
former  reigns,  were  now  become  so  numerous  that  their 
crimes  called  loudly  for  punishmem     Of  these  therefore 
he  daily  made  public  examples,  condemning  them  to  be 
i  ved  in  the  public  streets,  next  tobe  dragged  through 
the  theatre)  and  then  to  be  banished  into  the  uninlv. 
T  2 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ed  parts  of  the  empire,  or  sold  as  slaves.  His  courtesy 
and  readiness  to  do  good,  have  been  celebrated  even  by 
Christian  writers,  his  principal  rii:  -.oscnd 

any  petitioner  dissatisfied  away.  One  night,  recollect- 
ing that  he  hud  done  nothing  beneficial  to  mankind  the 

:cdout,  an 

.  sentence  too  le  not  to  be  uni- 

\ersally  kr. 

.\vonoblemenhadconspiredagainsthim 
c  them  ;  and  the  u< 

next  himseli 'ui  tlie  th<  ;>ut  the  sv 

the  gl  kit  into  thti 

judgnx 

-ih. 

..ount  Vcsuvii. 

miles  distant.     Upon  this  memorable  Pliuy, 

r,  being  impelled 

eager  r  was  suffo- 

There  happened  also  about  this 
time  a  fire  at  Home,  micd  thrc 

;  which 
ttu  thousand  me 

LT,  did  all  that  lay  in  his  power  u 

ages  sustained  by  ti  and  with  respect  to  the 

•j  would  take  the  whole  loss  of  that 

biire  counterbalanced 
t)y  vhc  successes  iu  Britain  under  A 

••.-rciuloi' 

lory,  aiK 
who  li  :  !y  submitted  to  the  Roman  power 

.  or  inhabi*  ere  the  first 

He  then  made  a  descent  up 

-ja.  or  the  i  Ji  surrendered  at  dis- 

»:retic  •:<  thus  rendered  himself  master  of  the 

whole  country,  he  look  every  method  to  restore 
d  to  introduce  some  s! 
.in-iong  those  whom  he  had  conquered.     Ho 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  223 

exhorted  them,  both  by  advice  and  example,  to  build 
temples,  theatres,  and  stately  houses.  He  caused  the 
sons  of  their  nobility  to  be  instructed  in  the  liberal  arts ; 
he  had  them  taught  the  Latin  language,  and  induced 
them  to  imitate  the  Roman  modes  of  dress  and  living. 
Thus,  by  degrees  this  barbarous  people  began  to  assume 
the  luxurious  manner  of  their  conquerors,  and  in  some 
time  even  to  outdo  them  in  all  the  refinements  of  sensu- 
al pleasures.  Upon  account  of  these  successes  in  Bri- 
tain, Titus  \vas  saluted  emperator  the  fifteenth  time; 
but  he  did  not  long  survive  this  honour,  being  surprised 
by  a  violent  fever  at  a  little  distance  from  Rome.  He 
expired  shortly  after,  but  not  without  suspicion  of  trea- 
chery from  his  brother  Domitian,  who  had  long  wished 
to  govern.  His  death  was  in  the  forty-first  year  of  his 
age,  having  reigned  two  years,  two  months,  and  twenty 
days. 

AD    81        ^^e   Beginning  of  Domitian's  reign   was 
universally  acceptable  to  the  people,   as  he 
appeared  equally  remarkable  for  his  clemency,  liberali- 
ty, and  justice. 

But  he  soon  began  to  shew  the  natural  deformity  of 
his  mind.  Instead  of  cultivating  literature,  as  his  father 
and  brother  V.ad  done,  he  neglected  all  kinds  of  study, 
addicting  himself  wholly  to  meaner  pursuits,  particu- 
larly archery  and  gaming.  He  was  so  very  expert  an 
archer,  that  he  would  frequently  cause  one  of  his  slaves 
to  stand  at  a  great  distance,  with  his  hands  spread  as  a 
mark,  and  would  shoot  his  arrows  with  such  exactness 
as  to  stick  them  all  between  his  fingers.  He  instituted 
three  sorts  of  contests  to  be  observed  every  five  years,, 
in  music,  horsemanship,  and  wrestling  ;  but  at  the  same 
time  he  banished  all  philosophers,  and  mathematicians 
from  Rome.  No  emperor  before  him  entertained  the 
people  with  such  various  and  expensive  shows.  Dur- 
ing these  diversions  he  distributed  great  rewards,  sitting 
as  president  himself,  adorned  with  a  purple  robe  and 
crown,  with  the  priests  of  Jupiter  and  the  college  of 
Flavian  priests  about  him.  The  meanness  of  his  occu- 
pations in  solitude  was  just  a  contrast  to  his  exhibitions 
of  public  ostentation.  He  usually  spent  his  hours  of 


2B4  THE  HISTORY  OF  TJ 

rctircmcni  in  catching  flies  and  sucking  them   through 

h  a  bodkin  ;  so  that  one  of  hi 

if  the  emperor  was  alone?  answered  that  he  had  not  so 
much  as  a  fly  to  bear  him  comp; 

:o  incrca  e  dur- 

:.)cnt  of   A 
.torn  of  1. 
lencc.      Domiuah 

tain:  iiary  reputation,  and  therefore  jealous  of  it 

in  others.     1 1 
upon 
of  Ci 

fa  trium; 
. 

| 
the 

I 

hich 

he  I;  '>ducd  the  Caledor: 

and 

it  a 
fleet  to  si  ,  first  disc 

*•  into  a  civilized 
province  of  tl.  ie  acconi! 

v  ss.     He 

on  1.  id  of  attempting  to  em- 

ula't  :tof  his   services. 

He  ordered  him  therefore  <  of  approba- 

care  that  triumphant  ornam-  ues, 

>urs  should  be  decreed  himi  but  at  the 

r  time  he  rcrr.  n  his  command,   under 

ctence  6f  appointing  him  to  the  government  oi 

15y  these  jla  surrendered  up  hjs  pio- 

vinc.  >>,  but  soon  found  tl! 

disposed  of.  .  3  return  to  Rt 

coolly  rec> 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  225 

ed  by  the  emperor  -,  and  dying  sometime  after  in  retire- 
ment, it  was  supposed  by  some  that  his  end  was  hasten- 
ed by  Domitiun's  direction.  Domitian  soon  after  found 
the  want  of  so  experienced  a  commander  in  the  many 
irruptions  of  the  barbarous  nations  that  surrounded  the 
empire.  The  Samaritans  in  Europe,  joined  with  those 
of  Asia*  made  a  formidable  invasion,  at  once  destroying 
a  whole  legion  and  a  general  of  the  Romans.  The  Da- 
cians,  under  the  conduct  of  Decebalus  their  king,  made 
an  irruption,  and  overthrew  the  Romans  in  several  en- 
gagements. At  last,  however,  the  barbarians  were  re- 
pelled, partly  by  force,  and  partly  by  the  assistance  of 
money ;  which  only  served  to  enable  them  to  make  fu- 
ture invasions  with  greater  advantage  But  in  whatever 
manner  the  enemy  might  have  been  repelled,  Domitian 
was  resolved  not  to  lose  the  honours  of  a  triumph.  He 
returned  in  great  splendour  to  Rome;  and  not  content- 
ed with  thus  triumphing  twice  without  a  victory,  he  rer 
solved  to  take  the  surname  of  Germanicus  for  his  con- 
quests over  a  people  with  whom  he  never  contended. 

In  proportion  as  the  ridicule  increased  against  him, 
his  pride  seemed  every  day  to  demand  greater  homage. 
He  would  permit  his  statues  to  be  made  only  of  gold 
and  silver;  he  assumed  to  himself  divine  honours,  and 
ordered  that  all  men  should  treat  him  with  the  same  ap- 
pellations which  they  gave  to  the  divinity.  His  cruelty 
was  not  behind  his  arrogance ;  he  caused  numbers  of 
the  most  illustrious  senators  and  others  to  be  put  to 
death  upon  the  most  trifling  pretences.  One  jElius 
Lama  was  condemned  and  executed  only  for  jesting, 
though  there  was  neither  novelty  nor  poignancy  in  his 
humour.  Cocceanus  was  murdered  only  for  celebrating 
the  nativity  of  Otho.  Pomposianus  shared  the  same 
fate,  because  it  was  foretold  by  an  astrologer  that  he 
should  be  emperor.  Salustius  Lucullus^  his  lieutenant 
in  Britain,  was  destroyed  only  for  having  given  his  name 
to  a  new  sort  of  lances  of  his  own  invention.  Junius 
Ruslicus  died  for  publishing  a  book,  in  which  he  com- 
mended Thrasea  and  Priscus,  two  philosophers  who  op 
posed  Vespasian's  coming  to  the  throne. 


THE  HISTORY  O: 

Lucius  Antonius,  governor  of  Upper  Germany,  knou  - 

ing  how  much  the  emperor  was  detested   at  home,  re- 

-cl  upon  striking  for  the  throne,  and  a:  y  as- 

.ed  the  ensigns  of  im]  a   at 

the  head  ccess  remained  a 

.,:   doubtful;  but   u   sudden  overflowing  of  the 

ic  c'.ividin  .pon  at  that  junc- 

neral,  and  totally 

routed.     The  news  of  this  victory,  we  are  told, 
brought  to  Rome  by  supernatural  means   on  the   same 
day  that  the  bait!  'ght.     Domitian's  severity 

was  greatly   increased  by  the  short  In 

order  to  discover  those  the 

cut- 

thrusting  lire  Into  the 
clcd  of  lu  ene- 

!t  by 
ilhout  a 
' 

he  c  mptrolK  '  e  treated 

him  with  the 

nus  (  him  to  h:  er  the  da 

coni  :  ible 

andnobllit;  .    he 

to  extirpate  enti;  one 

•d  the  senate  \\-  Toops,to 

the  great  con 

;uisc  himself  with  their  tern  jffer- 

ent  ;  °   a  public    e: 

I  conducted  tlu 
hvili  hung  round  \\ 

nu  '  -that  diffused  light  :it  to 

'    be 

seen  but  coffins,  with  tlu  a    of  the 

ether  with 

uments  of  cxccutiu'  ihe  com- 

iield  all  these 
several  men,  having  their  bodies  blackened,  eu^ 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  227 

drawn  sword  in  one  hand,  and  flaming  torch  in  the 
other  entered  the  hall,  and  danced  round  them.  After 
some  time,  when  the  guests  expected  nothing  less  than 
the  most  instant  death,  well  knowing  Domitian's  capri- 
cious cruelty,  the  doors  were  set  open,  and  one  of  the 
servants  came  to  inform  them  that  the  emperor  gave 
all  th*  company  leave  to  withdraw.  These  cruellies 
were  rendered  still  more  odious  by  his  lust  and  avarice. 
Frequently  after  presiding  at  an  execution,  he  would  re- 
tire with  the  lewdest  prostitutes,  and  use  the  same  baths 
which  they  did.  The  last  part  of  the  tyrant's  reign  was 
more  insupportable  than  any  of  the  preceding.  Nero 
exercised  his  cruelties  without  being  a  spectator  ;  but  a 
principal  part  of  the  Roman  miseries,  during  his  reign, 
was  to  see  and  be  seen  ;  to  behold  the  stern  air  and  fiery 
visage  of  the  tyrant,  which  he  bad  armed  against 
blushing  by  continued  intemperance,  directing  the  tor- 
tures, and  maliciously  pleased  with  adding  poignance  to 
every  agony. 

But  a  period  was  soon  to  be  put  to  this  monster's  cru- 
elties. Among  the  number  of  those  whom  he  at  once 
caressed  and  suspected  was  his  wife  Domitia.  whom  he 
had  taken  from  jElius  Lama,  her  former  husband.  It 
was  the  tysant's  method  to  put  down  the  names  of  all 
such  as  he  intended  to  destroy  in  his  tablets,  which  he 
t  about  him  with  great  circumspection.  Domitia 
fortunately  happening  to  get  a  sight  of  them,  was  struck 
at  finding  her  own  name  in  the  catalogue  of  those  fated 
to  destruction.  She  shewed  the  fatal  list  to  Norbanus 
and  Petronius,  praefects  of  the  praetorian  bands,  who 
found  themselves  set  down  ;  as  likewise  to  Stephanus, 
the  comptroller  of  the  household,  who  came  into  the 
conspiracy  with  alacrity.  They  fixed  upon  the  eigh- 
teenth day  of  September  for  the  completion  of  their  great 
attempt.  Upon  preparing  to  go  to  the  bath  on  the 
morning  of  that  day,  Petronius,  his  chamberlain,  came 
to  inform  him  that  Stephanus  the  comptroller  of  the' 
household  desired  to  speak  to  him  upon  an  affair  of  the 
utmost  importance.  The  emperor  having  given  orders 
that  his  attendants  should  retire,  Stephanus  entered  with 


328  THE  HISTORY  OF  Tl 

7iis  hand  in  a  scarf,  which  he  had  worn  thus  for  some 
.  the  better  to  conceal  a  dagger,  as  none  were  p«r- 
mitted  to  approach  the  emperor  with  arms.     He  bt 
by  giving  information  of  a  pretended   conspir 

ibited  a  paper  in  which  the  \  re  speci- 

fied.     \\  nitian  was  reading  the  •.-.  ith 

an   eager  curiosity,  Stephanus   drew  thr  and 

struck  him  in  the  groin.     The  wound  not  being  m< 
Domitian  caught  hold  of  the  a>  him 

upon  the   gro  .ng  out  foi 

ius  with  his  f:  ubal- 

tern  officers,  now  all  furiously  upon 

the  emperor,  and  c!i 

ulmost  incredible  what  some  writers  relate  con- 
..ueus,  \\howus  the-  nus. 

This  person,  whom  sonic  i.  and  some  a 

philosopher,  but  who  n 
thai;  stor,  was  just,  at  the  minute 

mitian  was  slain,  lecturing  in  one  of  the  publi< 
oft!-  aort  all  of  a  sudden 

s,  strike   the  tyrant." 
ice,  n»y  friends,  the  t\ 
"  dies  ti 
'•  in  which  I  1  e  he  sufi\  :mes  ;  he 

y  more  prodigies  were  s  c  porteni: 

i,  hut  the  fatt  produce 

more  pretern 
than  it  i!c»crvcd.     The  truth  seems  to  be. 

inons  and  prodigies   w  .  rnt  ; 

the  people  we 

a  country  of  \'r  c  properspil  forai. 

vest  of  imposture. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 


CHAP.  XXIII. 

The  free  good  Emperors  of  Rome. 
[A.  D.  96.] 

WHEN  it  was  publicly  known  that  Domitian  was 
slain,  the  senate  began  to  load  his  memory 
with  every  reproach.  His  statues  were  commanded  to 
be  taken  down,  and  a  decree  was  made,  that  all  his  in- 
scriptions should  be  erased,  his  name  struck  out  of  the 
registers  of  Fame,  and  his  funeral  omitted.  The  people, 
•who  now  took  little  part  in  the  affairs  of  government, 
looked  on  his  death  with  indifference  ;  the  soldiers  alonei 
•whom  he  had  loaded  with  favours,  and  enriched  by  lar- 
gesses, sincerely  regretted  their  benefactor. 

The  senate,  therefore  resolved  to  provide  a  successor 
before  the  army  could  have  an  opportunity  of  taking  the 
appointment  upon  themselves ;  and  Cocceius  Nerva  was 
chosen  to  the  empire  the  very  day  on  which  the  tyrant 
was  slain.  He  was  of  an  illustrious  family,  as  most  say, 
by  birth  a  Spaniard,  and  above  sixty-five  years  old  when 
he  was  called  to  the  throne.  He  was  at  that  time  the 
most  remarkable  man  in  Rome,  for  his  virtues,  modera- 
tion, and  respect  to  the  laws  ;  and  he  owed  his  exalta- 
tion to  the  blameless  conduct  of  his  former  life. 

The  people,  being  long  accustomed  to  tyranny,  re- 
garded Nerva's  gentle  reign  with  rapture,  and  even  gave 
his  imbecility  (for  his  humanity  was  carried  too  far  for 
justice)  the  natye  ^r  benevolence.  Upon  coming  to  the 
throne,  he  solemnly  swore  that  no  senator  of  Rome 
should  be  put  to  death  by  his  command,  during  his  reign, 
though  they  gave  ever  so  just  a  cause.  This  oath  he  so 
religiously  observed,  that  when  two  senators  had  con- 
spired his  death,  he  used  no  kind  of  severity  against 
them  ;  but  sending  for  them,  to  let  them  see  he  was  not 
ignorant  of  their  designs,  he  carried  them  with  him  to 
the  public  theatre :  there  presenting  each  a  dagger,  he 
them  to  strike,  as  he  was  determined  not  to  ward 
U 


Tin:  nisTom 

oflftheblow.       louring  his  short  reign  he  made  several 

\   prohibited  tlu  n  of 

•  •children;   which   had  ned 

by   his  predecessor,  but  not  wholly  remo  put 

s  to  death  who  had,  during  the  lu 
inst  ihcir  ! 

led  to  hi  h  of 

.d  much  of  the 
niturc  of  the  palace,  an 

r  money,  that  \\hcn  one  <  ! 

fouii  e  to  the  emperor  how 

to  <  i 

ii  ;  bvii  the  fm 

fortune  too  hrgc   for  a  private  pt 

ic  him  word  that  then    he 

. 

ins  Hnfvi-  i  op- 

posed hin 

;c  in  thcconsulshi;  also  with 

:im  ;  but 

he  rested  satisfied  w  c  who  were  c\ 

blc.  though  the  senate  - 
puni-  Hut  the    most   (' 

crests  was  from  the  pra 

the 

late  emperor's  death,   whose  memory  w;i-  :    to 

them  from  his  frequent  liber. 

ness  to  pood  men  rendered  him  ihe 

id  all  in  his  p<  'his 

rection  ;  trd  himself  i> 

dicrs,  and  opctiinv;   liis  bosom,  desired   them 
there  rather  than  be  guilty  ol  so  much  injustice.     The 
soldiers  however  paid  n  nnonstrai 

but  seizing  upon  Petrr>; 

in   the   n  manner.     Not  com 

this,  they  even  compelled  the  emperor  to  a^ 
thei.  .  and  to  make  a  speech   to  the  people 

whkh  he  thanked  the  cohorts  for  their  fidelity. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  231 

So  disagreeable  a  constraint  upon  the  emperor's  incli- 
nations was,  in  t'.ie  end,  attended  with  the  most  happy 
effects,  as  it  caused  the  adoption  of  Trajan  to  succeed 
him.  For,  perceiving  that,  in  the  present  turbulent  dis- 
position of  the  times,  he  stood  in  need  of  an  assistant  in 
the  empire,  setting  aside  all  his  own  relations,  he  fixed 
upon  Ulpius  Trajan,  an  utter  stranger  to  his  family,  who 
was  then  governor  in  Upper  Germany,  as  his  successor. 
And  in  about  three  months  after,  having  put  himself  in- 
to a  violent  passion  with  one  Regulus,  a  senator,  he  was 
seized  with  a  fever,  of  which  he  died,  after  a  short  reign 
of  one  year,  four  months,  and  nine  days. 

He  was  the  first  foreign  emperor  who  reigned  in  Rome, 
and  justly  reputed  a  prince  of  great  generosity  and  mo- 
deration. He  is  also  celebrated  for  his  wisdom,  though 
•with  less  reason,  the  greatest  instance  he  gave  of  it 
during  his  reign  being  the  choice  of  his  successor. 
UC  851  Trajan's  family  was  originally  from  Italy, 
AD  98  kuthe  himself  was  born  at  Seville  in  Spain. 
'  Upon  being  informed  of  the  death  of  Nerva, 
he  prepared  to  return  to  Rome  from  Germany,  where 
he  was  governor  :  and  one  of  the  first  lectures  he  receiv- 
ed upon  his  arrival  was  from  Plutarch,  the  philosopher, 
who  had  the  honour  of  being  his  master,  and  is  said 
to  have  written  him  a  letter  to  the  following  purpose  :— - 
"  Since  your  merits,  and  not  your  importunities,  have 
41  advanced  you  to  the  empire,  permit  me  to  congratu- 
*'  late  your  virtues  and  my  own  fortune.  If  your  future 
"  government  prove  answerable  to  your  former  worth  I 
"  shall  be  happy  ;  but  if  you  become  worse  for  power, 
"  your's  Wnl  be  the  danger,  and  mine  the  ignominy  of 
"  your  conduct.  The  errors  of  the  pupil  will  be  charg- 
"  ed  upon  his  instructor.  Seneca  is  reproached  for  the 
"  enormities  of  Nero  ;  and  Socrates  and  Quintillian  have 
"  not  escaped  censure  for  the  misconduct  of  their  respec- 
"  tive  scholars.  But  you  have  it  in  your  power  to  make 
44  me  the  most  honoured  of  men,  by  continuing  what 
"  you  are.  Continue  the  command  of  your  passions,  and 
"  make  virtue  the  scope  of  all  your  actions.  If  you  fok- 
"  low  these  instructions,  then  will  I  glory  in  my  having 
"  presumed  to  give  them  ;  if  you  neglect  what  I  offer, 


TJ'  ORY  OF  THE 

-ices. 

-s  mo- 
his 
liberality  to  i! 

CX|f 

'he  praetorian  bands  the 
swoi  'o  ruston  re- 

u  I  i  .   ifother 

ter  which  he  >  gave  laws  was  the  first 

the  thioi. 

thf  provinces  Ho  thci 

. 
tho"* 

time  ;s  Inkiest 

cr,  this  monarch  b, 
battle,  and  no 
routed  with  g: 

pero  !y  them.  ory 

1(lacknowle<lgint;  him- 
.:i  empire. 

i  triumpl. 

^ur- 
that  the  Dacians  had  renewed 

s  now  thercfo- 
o  the  Roman  state,  and 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  233 

invaded  his  dominions  with  an  army  equal  to 
that  with  which  he  had  before  subdued  him.  But  Dece- 
balus,  now  grown  more  cautious  by  his  former  defeat, 
used  every  art  to  avoid  coming  to  an  engagement.  He 
also  put  various  stratagems  in  practice  to  distress  the 
enemy  ;  and  at  one  time  Trajan  himself  was  in  danger 
of  being  slain  or  taken.  He  also  took  Longinus,  one  of 
the  Roman  generals,  prisoner,  and  threatened  to  kill  him 
in  case  Trajan  refused  granting  him  terms  of  peace. 
But  the  emperor  replied,  that  peace  and  war  had  not 
their  dependence  upon  the  safety  of  one  subject  only  ; 
wherefore  Longinus  some  time  after  destroyed  himself 
by  a  voluntary  death.  The  fate  of  this  general  seemed 
to  give  new  vigour  to  Trajan's  operations.  In  order  to 
be  better  enabled  to  invade  the  enemy's  territories  at 
pleasure,  he  undertook  a  most  stupendous  work,  which 
was  no  less  than  building  a  bridge  across  the  Danube. 
This  amazing  structure,  which  was  built  over  a  deep, 
broad,  and  rapid  river,  consisted  of  more  than  twenty- 
two  arches,  an  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  and  an  hun- 
dred and  seventy  broad  :  the  ruins  of  this  structure, 
which  remain  to  this  day,  shew  modern  architects  how 
far  they  were  surpassed  by  the  ancients,  both  in  the 
greatness  and  the  boldness  of  their  designs.  Upon  fin- 
ishing this  work,  Trajan  continued  the  war  with  great 
vigour,  sharing  with  the  meanest  of  his  soldiers  the  fa- 
tigues of  the  campaign,  and  continually  encouraging  them 
to  their  duty  by  his  own  example.  By  these  means,  not- 
withstanding the  country  was  spacious  and  uncultivated, 
and  the  inhabitants  brave  and  hardy,  he  subdued  the 
whole,  and  added  the  kingdom  of  Dacia  as  a  province 
to  the  Roman  empire.  Decebalus  made  some  attempts 
to  escape  :  but  being  surrounded  on  every  side,  he  at 
last  slew  himself,  and  his  head  was  sent  immediately  to 
Rome,  to  certify  his  misfortune  there.  These  successes 
Deemed  to  advance  the  empire  to  a  greater  degree  of 
splendour  than  it  had  hitherto  acquired.  Ambassadors 
were  seen  to  come  from  the  interior  parts  of  India,  to 
congratulate  Trajaa's  success,  and  bespeak  his  friend- 
•.hip.  At  his  return  to  Rome  he  entered  the  city  in  tri- 
ll 2 


234  THE  HISTORY  OF  THL 

MI  ;  and  the  rejoicings  (or  his  victories  lasted  for  life 
M hundred  and 

o  the  empire,  he 

continued  his  rci^n,  tc\ed,  honoured,  and  a! 
by  hi 

nch  men  ; 
ons  of  merit 

list  he  c 
i 
It  had  : 

all    his  : 

about  the  ninth  year  of  hi  crsuaded 

P6       to  look  upon  the  C: 

107'    C1 

seen 

nocencc  and  v  .ndof  thci 

wretched 

*jom- 

;  rom 

thence  th  t   to  the 

peo- 

• 

them   to  wild  bi 
,nd  studied  new  torments  by 
•wever,  these  cruellies  \ 

of  i  rrnors  of  the    u 

;)rc,  iieir  tumultuous   . 

.ion  ofcr  put 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  ""  235 

pests  to  society.  As  the  Jews  had  practised  their  cru- 
elties in  Cyprus  particularly,  a  law  was  publicly  enact- 
ed, by  which  it  was  made  capital  for  any  Jew  to  set  foot 
on  the  island. 

During  these  bloody  transactions,  Trajan  was  prose- 
cuting his  successes  in  the  East,  where  he  carried  the  Ro- 
man arms  farther  than  they  had  ever  been  before  :  but, 
resolving  to  return  once  more  to  Rome,  he  found  himselt 
too  weak  to  proceed  in  his  usual  manner.  He  therefore 
ordered  himself  to  be  carried  on  shipboard  to  the  city  of 
A.  D  117  Sateucia,  where  he  died  of  the  apoplexy ,  hav- 
'  ing  been  attacked  by  that  disorder  once  be- 
fore, in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age,  after  a  reign  of 
nineteen  years,  six  months,  and  fifteen  days. 

Adrian,  who  was  nephew  to  Trajan,  was  adopted  to 
succeed  in  the  empire,  and  elected  by  all  orders  of  the 
stale,  though  absent  from  Rome,  being  then  at  Antiochj 
as  general  of  the  forces  in  the  East. 

Upon  his  election,  he  began  to  pursue  a  course  quite 
opposite  to  that  of  his  predecessor,  taking  every  method 
of  declining  war,  and  promoting  the  arts  of  peace.  He 
•was  quite  satisfied  with  preserving  the  ancient  limits  of 
the  empire,  and  seemed  no  way  ambitious  of  extensive 
conquests. 

Adrian  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  the  Roman 
emperors  for  the  variety  of  his  endowments  ;  he  was 
highly  skilful  in  all  the  accomplishments  both  of  body 
and  mind  ;  he  composed,  with  great  beauty ,  both  in  prose 
und  verse ;  he  pleaded  at  the  bar,  and  was  one  of  the 
best  orators  of  his  time  :  nor  were  his  moral  virtues  less 
than  his  accomplishments.  His  moderation  and  clem- 
ency appeared  by  pardoning  the  injuries  which  he  had 
received  when  he  was  yet  but  a  private  man.  One  day, 
meeting  a  person  who  had  formerly  been  his  most  in- 
veterate enemy,  "  ray  good  friend,"  cried  he,  "  you 
^  have  escaped,  for  I  am  made  emperor."  He  was  af- 
o  to  his  friends,  and  gentle  to  persons  of  meaner  sta- 
tions ;  he  relieved  their  wants,  and  visited  them  in  sick- 
ness ;  it  being  his  constant  maxim,  that  he  was  an  em- 
peror, not  elected  for  his  own  g-ood,  but  for  the  benefit 
•unkind. 


IE  HISTORY  OF  THI. 

These  were   his  virtues,  which  were  contrasted  by 
'.ure  of  vices;  or,  to  say  the  truth. 

crve  his  general  rectitude  ol 
character  without  deviation. 

iie  throne  when  several  of 

the  northern  and 

the  i  >ns  on  the  empire. 

The  found  the  way  to  con- 

quer i  retiring 

upon  the  >crior  force  o\> 

began   to  be  truly  formidable   to  U 
thoughts  of  contracting  the  f  the  cmpii\ 

ne  of  the  most  remote  and  least  di 

erruled  !._.  nds, 

;:icd,  thu  mid 

intimi'la'.  iy.     Hut  I 

ed  \\  ,  he  broke  do 

over  the  Danube.  \  :;ail  built 

:icursions  of  his  ! 

.i  short  time  at  Rome,  so  as  t>  see  that 
all  things  were  regulated  and  es 
of  the  public,  he  prepared  to  visit,  and  t.i 
<   empire.     It  was  one  of  hi 
ought  loimitate  the  sun,  which  ciifl'useti. 

lurtsof  tl.' 

with  him  a  splendid  court,  and  a  )le  force, 

entered  the  pi  1  all 

the  inhabiun 
irotn  thence  t 

i  forming  many  abuses,  and  re 
i  the  Ron  >r  the  better  security  of  the 

southern  parts  of  the  kingdom,  he  b  -ood 

ajule.-.th,  entcnding  from  the  i:  -  :)er- 

to  the  T\  nhumbcrland,  to  prevent  th< 

ions  of  the  Pkts  and  other  barbarous  nations  to  the 
north.     From  Britain,  returning  through  Gaul,  he 
reeled  his  journey  to  S;  received  with 

gre.i  ~  of  that  country.     Tin 

erirrc;  in  the  city  of  Tarragona,  he  called  a  meci 


EM?IRE  OF  ROME.  227 

of  all  the  deputies  from  the  provinces,  and  ordained 
many  things  for  the  benefit  of  the  nation.  Frcm  Sp^in, 
returning  to  Rome,  he  continued  there  for  some  time  in 
order  to  prepare  for  his  journey  into  the  east,  which  was 
hastened  by  a  new  invasion  of  the  Parthians.  His  Ap- 
proach com|ScUtng  the  enemy  to  peace,  he  pursued  his 
t r:\7els  without  molestation.  Arriving-  in  Asia  Miner, 
he  turned  out  of  his  way  to  visit  the  famous  city  of 
Athens.  There  making  a  considerable  stay,  he  was  in- 
itiated into  the  Elusinian  mysteries,  which  were  account- 
ed most  sacred  in  the  Pagan  mythology,  and  took  up- 
on him  the  office  of  archon  or  chief  magistrate  cf  the 
place.  In  this  place  also  he  remitted  the  severity  of  the 
Christian  persecution  at  the  representation  6'fGramanusj 
the  proconsul  of  Asia,  who  represented  the  people  of 
that  persuasion  as  no  way  culpable.  He  was  even  so 
far  reconciled  to  them  as  to  think  of  receiving  Christ 
among  the  number  of  the  gods.  After  a  winter's  con- 
tinuance at  Athens  he  went  over  into  Sicily,  and  visited 
j£tna,  and  the  other  curiosities  of  the  place.  Return- 
ing from  thence  once  more  to  Rome,  after  a  short  stay 
he  prepared  ships,  and  crossed  over  into  Africa.  There 
he  spent  much  time  in  regulating  abuses,  and  reforming 
the  government ;  iw  deciding  controversies,  and  erect- 
ing magnificent  buildings.  Among  the  rest,  he  order- 
ed Carthage  to  be  rebuilt,  calling  it  after  his  own  name, 
Adrianople.  Again  returning  to  Rome,  where  he  stay- 
ed but  a  very  little  time,  he  travelled  a  second  time  into 
Greece,  passed  over  into  Asia  Minor  ;  from  thence  went 
into  Syria,  gave  laws  and  instructions  to  all  the  neigh- 
bouring kings,  whom  he  invited  to  come- and  consult 
with  him  ;  he  then  entered  Palestine,  Arabia,  and  Egypt, 
where  he  caused  Pompey's  tomb,  that  had  been  long 
neglected  and  almost  covered  with  sand,  to  be  renewed 
and  beautified.  He  also  gave  orders  for  the  rebuilding  of 
Jerusalem,  which  was  performed  with  great  expedi- 
tion by  the  assistance  of  the  Jews,  who  now  began  to 

cive  hopes  of  being  restored  to  their  long  lost  king- 
dom. But  these  expectations  only  served  to  aggravate 
their  calamities,  for  being  incensed  at  the  privileges 

''  were  granted  the  Pagan  worshippers  in  their  new 


23&  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

city,  they  fell  upon  the  Romans  and  Christians  that  were 
dispersed  throughout  Judea,  and  unmercifully  put  them 
all  to  the  sword.  Adrian  was  at  Atlu 

^urrectionbee 
lul  body  of  m  ommand  of  J  crus 

'..ist  them,  this  general  c 

bloody  vie  tori  i.  e  war  was  con- 

ciu,;  years,  by  the  d  <   a  thou- 

the  destruction  of  near 
hundred  thousand  men  in  buttle. 

He  then  banished  all  those  who  remained  out  of  J«- 

:  by  a  public  decree  forbade  any  to  come  with- 

.cw  of  their  iu-.  ^oon 

upti«n  ot 

ing 

pri-1;  i  unprofi: 

bom.  they 

rctr.  \ilds  to  enjoy  their 

'.'.e  fresh  invasions. 

11  »\  >  cars  inn  iirough  his 

d  re  for  mi  ,   he 

and  end  all  I 

Home      Nothing  coul  .eful  to  the  people 

dc  the  rest  of  his 

h  the  loi 

he  now  began  to 
not  the  least  ( 

;>plication  to  the  public  wei 

ll\^  \vith  the  most 

•reqacntly 
t  Mat  he  thought  no  kind  of  knowledge  incori 

/her  in  his  private  or  public 

M   so   fond  01   literary   fame,  that 

vn  life,  and  afterwards  gave 

ii  u  to  publish  under  their  names.     But 

might  have  been  his  weakness  in  aiming  at 
uni  n  -.in  no  part  of  his  reii;n  re- 

miss in  attending  the  duties  of  his  exalted  station.     He 
ordered  the  knights  and  senators  never  to  appear  in  pub- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  239 

at  in  the  proper  hnbits  of  their  orders.  He  forbade 
masters  to  kill  their  slaves,  as  ha;!  been  before  allowed, 
but  ordained  that  they  should  be  trier!  by  the  laws  enact- 
ed against  capital  offences.  A  law  so  just,  had  he  done 
nothing  more,  deserved  to  have  ensured  his  reputation 
with  posterity,  and  to  have  made  him  dear  to  mankind. 
fie  still  further  extended  the  lenity  of  the  laws  to  those 
unhappy  men  who  had  been  long  thought  too  mean  for 
justice.  If  a  master  was  found  killed  in  his  house,  he 
would  not  allow  all  his  slaves  to  be  put  to  the  torture  as 
formerly,  but  only  such  as  might  have  perceived  or  pre- 
vented the  murder. 

In  such  employments  he  consumed  the  greatest  part 
of  his  time  ;  but  at  last  finding  the  duties  of  his  station 
daily  increasing,  and  his  own  strength  proportionally 
upon  the  decline,  he  resolved  upon  adopting  a  successor. 
Marcus  Antoninus,  afterwards  surnamed  the  Pious,  was 
the  person  he  pitched  upon  ;  but  previously  obliged  him 
to  adopt  two  others,  namely,  Marcus  Aurelius,  and 
Lucius  Verus,  all  of  whom  afterwards  succeeded  to  the 
empire. 

!e  he  was  thus  careful  in  appointing  a  successor, 
his  bodily  infirmities  became  so  insupportable,  that  he 
vehemently  desired  some  of  his  attendants  would  dis- 
patch him.  Antoninus,  however,  would  by  no  means 
permit  any  of  his  domestics  to  be  guilty  of  so  great  an 
impiety,  but  used  all  the  arts  in  his  power  to  reconcile 
the  emperor  to  sustain  life.  His  pains  increasing  every 
day,  he  was  frequently  heard  to  cry  out,  "  How  miser- 
able a  thing  it  is  to  seek  death  and  not  to  find  it !"  In 
this  deplorable  exigf-nce  he  resolved  on  going  to  Baiae, 
where  the  tortures  of  his  disease  increasing,  they  affect- 
ed his  understanding.  Continuing  for  some  time  in  these 
excruciating  circumstances,  he  was  at  last  resolved  to 
observe  no  regimen,  often  saying  that  kings  died  merely 
by  the  multitude  of  their  physicians.  This  conduct 
served  to  hasten  that  death  he  seemed  so  ardently  to  de- 
sire ;  and  it  was  probably  joy  upon  its  approach  which 
dictated  the  celebrated  stanzas  which  are  so  well  known, 

in  repeating  which  he  expired,  HI  the  sixty-second 


TilK  HISTORY  O! 

year  ,  after  a  prospered 

:iths. 

N  ble- 

thc  highest  honours  of  the 
tinu 

year  of  the    most 

t  offices  t 

im- 

e  of  the 
client  princr* 

is  uere  so  pure   that  he 
1  to  Nun. 
for  his  tenderness  to  hi- 

.ment  to  the  n 

.m  eminent   re  warder   of  learned  men,  to 
whom  he  eave  large  pe: 

r  Appull 

i  he 

.a  Home,  the  c 

• 

not  the 
'.er's  upoi 
only  returned   wi 
how  Appolloi 

should  th 
Rome  toanot! 

to  him      \'«  good  empe- 

ror   was    thu^ 

their  cor 
ing    their  foil 
seizi  -use 

.  he  ordered  his  friends 

un.  In  their  presence  he  confirmed 
the  hout  once  naming 

Lucius  Verus,  \\ho  had  been  joined  by  Adrian  v 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  241 

him  in  the  succession  ;  then  commanding  the  golden 
statue  of  Fortune,  which  was  always  in  the  chambers 
of  the  emperors,  to  be  removed  to  that  of  his  successor, 
he  expired  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age,  after  a 
prosperous  reign  of  twenty-two  years,  and  almost  eight 
months. 

Marcus  Aurelius,  though  left  sole  successor  to  the 
IT  C  Q'4  tnrone>  to°k  Lucius  Verus  as  his  associate 
\  D  161  ant*  eclua^  m  governing  tne  state.  Aure- 
lius was  the  son  of  Amius  Verus,  of  an  an- 
cient and  illustrious  family,  which  claimed  its  original 
from  Numa.  Lucius  Verus  was  the  son  of  Comraodus, 
who  had  been  adopted  by  Adrian,  but  died  before  he 
succeeded  to  the  throne.  Aurelius  was  remarkable  for 
his  virtues  and  accomplishments,  as  his  partner  in  the 
empire  was  for  his  ungovernable  passions  and  debauch- 
ed morals.  The  one  was  an  example  of  the  greatest 
goodness  and  wisdom,  the  other  of  ignorance,  sloth,  and 
extravagance. 

The  two  emperors  had  been  scarce  settled  on  the  throne 
when  the  empire  seemed  attacked  on  every  side  from  the 
barbarous  nations  by  which  it  was  surrounded.  The  Cati 
invaded  Germany  and  Rhaetia,  ravaging  all  with  fire  and 
sword  ;  but  were,  after  some  time,  repelled  by  Victori- 
nus.  The  Britains  likewise  revolted,  but  were  repressed 
by  Califurnius.  But  the  Partliians,  under  their  king, 
Vologesus,  made  an  irruption  still  more  dreadful  than 
either  of  the  former,  destroying  the  Roman  legions  in 
Armenia,  then  entering  Syria,  and  driving  out  the  Ro- 
man governor,  and  filling  the  whole  country  with  terror 
and  confusion.  In  order  to  stop  the  progress  of  this  bar- 
barous irruption,  Verus  himself  went  in  person,  being 
accompanied  by  Aurelius  part  of  the  way. 

Verus,  upon  entering  Antioch,  gave  an  indulgence  to 
every  appetite,  without  attending  to  the  fatigues  of  war, 
rioting  in  excesses,  unknown  even  to  the  voluptuous 
Greeks,  leaving  all  the  glory  of  the  field  to  his  lieuten- 
ants, who  were  sent  to  repress  the  enemy.  These,  how- 
ever, fought  with  great  success  ;  Statius  Priscus  took 
Artazata  ;  Martius  put  Vologesus  to  flight,  took  Seleu- 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Till 

d  and  bi, 
.olishcd  the  magnificent 

In  a  c<  ,  liich  the 

continued,  t'. 

.try,  and  entirely  subdued  it ;  but-  upon  tlu 

um- 
s  no 
in.pcdi.ucnt  ' 

liartlly  t. 
'•'• 

.dinj;  thi 
sumed  t 

!  to  Rome  to  | 

.iijgly  solemnized  \\ 
ponip  ar...  ur. 

jf  this  expedition,  which  continu- 

imsclf  to  the 

I 

i  he 

- 

upon  the  same  subject,  : 
till  night 

leai: 

of  th 

thod  of  reclaim io 

daughter  Lucilla. 

rus  •  lioch.     D 

effectual  :   Lucilla  proved  ( 

her  father,  and  instead  of  i 

trav  ilamc   them. 

Aurelius  still  hoped  ti'at  upon  the  return  of  Yerus  to 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  243 

Rome  his  presence  would  keep  him  in  awe,  and  that 
happiness  would  at  length  be  restored  to  the  state.  But 
in  this  al-:o  he  was  disappointed.  His  return  only  seem- 
ed fatal  to  the  empire  :  for  his  army  carried  back  the 
plague  from  Parthia,  and  disseminated  the  infection  into 
all  the  provinces  through  which  it  passed. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  miserable  state  of  the  em- 
pire shortly  after  the  return  of  Verus.  In  this  horrid 
picture  was  represented  an  emperor,  inoawed  by  exam- 
ple, or  the  calamities  surrounding  him,  giving  way  to 
unheard  of  debaucheries.  A  raging  pestilence  spread- 
ing terror  and  desolation  through  all  parts  of  the  west- 
ern world  ;  earthquakes,  famines,  and  inundations,  such 
as  had  never  before  happened  ;  the  products  of  the  earth 
throughout  all  Italy  devoured  by  locusts  ;  all  the  barba- 
rous nations  surrounding  the  empire,  the  Germans,  the 
Sarmatiuns,  the  Quacli,  and  the  Marcomanni,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  its  various  calamities,  and  making  their  ir- 
ruptions even  into  Italy  itself.  Thepi'.jsts  doing  all 
they  could  to  put  a  stop  to  the  miseries  of  the  state,  by 
attempting  to  appease,, the  gods  ;  vowing  and  offering 
numberless  sacrifices  :  celebrating  all  the  sacred  rites 
that  had  ever  been  known  in  Rome  ;  and  exhibiting  the 
solemnity  called  Lectistcrnia,  seven  days  together.  To 
crown  the  whole,  these  dhtnusiasts,  not  satisfied  with  the 
impending  calamities,  making  new,  by  ascribing-  the  dis- 
tresses of  the  state  to  the  impieties  of  the  Christians  alone  : 
so  that  a  violent  persecution  was  seen  reigning  in  all 
parts  of  the  empire,  in  which  Justin  Martyr,  St.Polycarp, 
bishop  of  Sr.yrna,  ancf  an  infinite  number  of  others, 
suffered  martyrdom. 

In  this  scene  of  universal  tumult,  desolation,  and  dis- 
tress there  was  nothing  left  but  the  virtues  and  tlic  wis- 
dom of  one  man  alone  to  restore  tranquility,  and  bring 
hack  happiness  to  the  empire.  Aurelius  began  his  en- 
ours  by  marching  against  the  Marcomanni  and  Qua- 
di,  taking  Verus  with  him,  who  reluctantly  left  the  sen- 
sual delights  of  Rome  for  the  fatigues  of  a  camp.  They 
came  up  with  the  Marcomanni  near  the  city  of  Aqui- 
Icia,  and  after  a  furious  engagement  routed  their  whole 
v  :  then  pursuing  them  across  the  Alps,  overcame 


THE  HISTORY  OF  T: 

hem  in  several  contests,  and  at  last,  entirely 

-  returned  int< 
Meloss.    As  the  v.  inter-. 
:i.ined  upon  going  from  Aqui- 
to  Rom-  -v,  an 

d  to  his  life,  be, 

yearolc!.  _.cljlls 

nine.     .A  had  hitherto 

js  of  Kovcrni 

-^an  to  act 
and  mo:-.  han  c\er. 

arous 
pco; 

turned  to  Ro;, 

to  bencfr  v.er  reformation  of  the  inter- 

But  !  •       re  ^on  interrupts 

renewal  of  \heforrncr.. 
of  which  he  is  suit]  to  1 
when  his 

of  a  d  becnk 

^or'  f •»  anu  just  as  the  \ 

to   fall  \ipon  tl. 

The  | 

their  helmet  up  to  heaven,  and  receiving  t 
which  came  t 

clov;  cd  for  the 

time  terrible  storm  of !. 

•iic  enemy 

.  this   unl'  .  the  Ro- 

.  recovc!  i  ore  tuni- 

:   an  engagement,  ac- 

ilifTcrcni  :i!>e  the  \icto' 

of  their  « 

cmed  so  sensible  of  miracu- 
lous i  .t  he  immediately  relaxed  the  pt 

- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  245 

This  good  emperor  having  at  a  time  detected  one 
Avidius  in  a  conspiracy  against  him,  and  generously 
granting  him  his  pardon,  some  who  were  near  his  per- 
son took  the  liberty  to  blame  his  conduct,  telling  him 
that  Avidius  would  not  have  been  so  generous  had  he 
been  conqueror.  To  this  the  emperor  replied  in  this 
sublime  manner,  "  I  never  served  the  gods  so  ill,  or 
"  reigned  so  irregularly,  as  to  fear  Avidius  could  ever 
''•  be  conqueror." 

He  usually  called  philosophy  his  mother,  in  opposition 
to  the  court,  which  he  considered  as  his  stepmother. 
He  also  was  frequently  heard  to  say,  "  that  the  people 
"  were  happy  whose  philosophers  were  kings,  or  whose 
tc  kings  were  philosophers."  He  in  fact  was  one  of  the 
most  considerable  men  then  in  being ;  and  though  he  had 
been  born  in  the  meanest  station,  his  merits  as  a  writer, 
as  his  works  remain  to  this  day,  would  have  insured 
immortality. 

Having  thus  restored  prosperity  to  his  subjects,  and 
peace  to  mankind,  news  was  brought  him  that  the  Scy- 
thians and  barbarous  nations  of  the  north  were  up  in 
arms  and  invading  the  empire.  He  once  more,  there** 
fore  resolved  to  expose  his  aged  person  in  the  defence 
if  his  country,  and  made  speedy  preparations  to  oppose 
them.  He  went  to  the  senate,  for  the  first  time,  and  de- 
sired to  have  money  out  of  the  public  treasury.  He 
then  spent  three  whole  days  in  giving  the  people  lec- 
tures, by  which  they  might  regulate  their  lives ;  and, 
ig  finished  his  lectures,  departed  upon  his  expedi- 
tion, amidst  the  prayers  and  lamentations  of  all  his  sub- 
jects. It  was  upon  going  to  open  his  third  campaign 
he  was  seized  with  the  plague  at  Vienna,  which 
stopped  the  progress  of  his  success.  Nothing,  however, 
could  abate  his  desire  of  being  beneficial  to  mankind  ; 
his  fears  for  the  youth  and  unpromising  disposition  of 
Commodus,  his  son  and  successor,  seemed  to  give  him 
great  uneasiness  ;  wherefore,  he  addressed  his  friends 
and  the  principal  officers  that  were  gathered  round  his 
bed,  telling  them,  that  as  his  son  was  now  going  to  lose  a 
father,  he  hoped  he  should  find  many  fathers  in  them 
X  2 


JISTORY  OF  THh 

•>  thus  spcaki;,  n€63 

\vhich  stc:  ,  and  which  brought  him  to 

died   in  i  ;nth 

:  cigncd  nineteen  years  and  * 

;  and  it  seenu  c  whole  glory  ;>er- 

1  the  Rot  :e  died  with  this  grcatt 

Horn  ..is. 

CHAP 

•*>firring  the  seat    cj 

• 

ISO.] 

Ts  procured  Comxnodr. 
ii  to  the  throne.     He 
::>yfc  tlien 
^11  the  provinces. 

j'tion.    There 
:itude  bctv 

Dor.  might  b«  apt  to  imagine  he 

going  over  the  same  re: 

s  and  bro 

lian  three  In. 

inal  jle  purpc 

id,  with   all  hi- 

somctmtcb  ncnt  alwvu  fTie  markets  in  a  frolic, 
,1  wares  .  mctimcs  he  imita- 

..   horse  c  rove  his  own 

lie  chiefly  promo- 
thc  companions  gi 
.  or  the  r. 

If  any  person  desired  to  be  revenged  o»  an  enemy,  by 
bar;  ith  Commodus  fora  sum  of  money  lu 

iy  him  in  such  n  manner  as  he  thought 
manded  a  person  to  be  cast  to  the 
uing  the  life  of  Caligula  in  Suetonius.    He 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  24.7 

accidentally  overheating  his  bath.  He  would  sometimes? 
when  he  was  in  7  good  humour,  cut  off  men's  noses  un- 
der a  pretence  of  shaving  their  beards  ;  and  yet  he  was 
himself  so  jealous  of  all  mankind  that  he  was  obliged  to 
be  his  own  barber. 

At  length,  upon  the  feast  of  Janus,  resolving  to  fence 
naked  before  the  people  as  a  common  gladiator,  three 
of  his  friends  remonstrated  to  him  upon  the  indecency 
of  such  a  behaviour.  These  were  Laetus,  his  general, 
Electus,  his  chamberlain,  and  Marcia,  a  concubine,  of 
whom  he  always  appeared  excessively  fond.  Their  ad- 
vice was  attended  with  no  other  effect  than  that  of  in- 
censing him  against  them,  and  inciting  him  to  resolve 
upon  their  destruction.  It  was  his  methodtJike  that  of 
Domitian,  to  set  down  the  names  of  all  such  as  he  in- 
tended to  put  to  death,  in  a  roll  which  he  carefully  kept 
by  him.  However,  at  this  time,  happening  to  lay  the 
roll  on  his  bed  while  he  was  bathing  in  another  room, 
it  was  taken  up  by  a  little  boy,  whom  he  passionately 
loved.  The  child,  after  playing  with  it  for  some  time, 
brought  it  to  Marcia,  who  was  instantly  alarmed  at  the 
contents.  She  immediately  discovered  her  terrors  to 
Laetus  and  Electus,  who,  perceiving  their  dangerous  sit- 
uation, instantly  resolved  (he  tyrant's  death.  After  some 
deliberation  it  was  agreed  upon  to  dispatch  him  by  poi- 
son ;  but  this  not  succeeding,  Martia  hastily  introduced 
a  young  man,  called  Narcissus,  and  prevailed  upon  him 
to  assist  in  strangling  the  tyrant.  Commodus  died  in 
the  thirty -first  year  of  his  age,  after  an  impious  reign  of 
twelve  years  and  nine  months. 

U  C   945         The  secrecy  anc*  expedition  with  which 

\  D   192     Commodus  was  assassinated  were  such  that 

few  were  at  that  time  acquainted  with  the 

real  circumstances  of  his  death.     His  body  was  wrapped 

s  a  bale  of  useless  furniture,  and  carried  through  the 

guards,  most  of  whom  were  either  drunk  or  asleep. 

Previous  to  the  assassination,  the  conspirators  had  fix- 
ed upon  a  successor.     Helvius  Pertinax,  whose  virtues 
and  courage  rendered  him  worthy  of  the  most  exalted 
station,  and  who  had  passed  through  many  changes  of 
•;nc,  WITS  fixed  upon  to  succeed  him  ;  when,  there- 


248  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

fore,  the  conspirators  repaired  to  his  house  to  salute  him 
emperor,  lie  considered  their  an  ;  >mmand  i 

the  emperor  Commodus  for  liis  death.     Upon  Lsetus  en- 
tering his  apartment,  I'crtinax,  witho- 
cried  out,  that  for  many  days  he  had  expected  to  en 
life  in  that  manner,  wondering  that  tl. 
tcrrcd  it  so  1  \vasnot  a  littl, 

cd  when  informed  of  the  r<  and 

opt  of  the 
h  their  oiV 

proclaimed 

soon  after  the  citizens  and  s<  Deni- 

ed ;  the  joy  at  the  election  of  their  new  s< 

it  for  the  death  of  t 

then  cd  Com'  aemy  to 

the  fcods,  his  country,  and  ai 

t  upon  a  dunghill.     In  • 
time,   th  :*tinax,  as  cmpen 

v.ith  numerous  acclamation  .  the 

is  of  obedience  -res  soon  after  folk 

the  i  >f  Rome  ;  so  that  he  began  1 

uniu  on  to  the  whole  empire,  in  tl 

:gC. 

ced  the  justice  and  wisdom  of  this 
Tnor.  lie  short  time  it  continued.     But  the 

praetorian  sol<  , aimers  he  had  attempted  to 

reform,  having  bet  .rrupted  by  the  indulgence 

and  profusion  of  their  n  to  hate 

him  for  the  parsimony  i  'reduced 

olved  to  dethrone  him  ; 
in   a   tumultuous  rnam  hed 

throi  s  of  Rome,  entered  his  j 

opposition,  where  a  Tungrian  soldiei  ,im  dead 

vith  a  blow  of  his  lajice.     From  the  number  of  hi^ 
ventures,  he  was  called  the  Tennis  ball  of  Fortune  ;  and 
certainly  no  man  ever  experienced  such  v  of 

.tions  with  so  blameless  a  chaivr 
but  three  months. 

The  soldiers,  having  committed  this  out- 
'   rage,  made  proclamation  that  they 
'  the  empire  to  whoever  would  pure 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  249 

the  highest  price.  In  consequence  of  this  proclamation, 
two  bidders  were  found,  namely?  Sulpician  and  Didius. 
The  former,  a  consular  person,  prefect  of  the  city,  and 
son-in-law  to  the  late  emperor  Pertinax.  The  latter,  a 
consular  person  likewise,  a  great  lawyer,  and  the  wealth- 
iest man  in  the  city.  Sulpician  had  rather  promises 
than  treasures  to  bestow.  The  offers  of  Didius,  who 
produced  immense  sums  of  ready  money,  prevailed. 
He  was  received  into  the  camp,  and  the  soldiers  instant- 
ly swore  to  obey  him  as  emperor. 

Upon  being  conducted  to  the  senate  house,  he  addres- 
sed the  few  senators  that  were  present  in  a  very  laconic 
.hers,  you  want  an  emperor,  and  1  am  the 
"  fittest  person  you  can  chuse."     The  choice  of  the  sol- 
•>  was  confirmed  by  the  senate,  and  Didius  was  ac- 
knowledged emperor,  now  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of 
his  age. 

It  should  seem,  by  this  weak  monarch's  conduct  when 
seated  on  the  throne,  that  he  thought  the  government  of 
an  empire  rather  a  pleasure  than  a  toil.  Instead  of  at- 
tempting to  gain  the  hearts  of  his  subjects,  he  gave  him- 
self up  to  ease  and  inactivity,  utterly  regardless  of  the 
duties  of  his  station.  He  was  mild  and  gentle  indeed, 
neither  injuring  any  nor  expecting  to  be  injured.  But 
that  avarice,  by  which  he  became  opulent,  still  followed 
him  in  his  exaltation  ;  so  that  the  very  soldiers  who  elect- 
ed him  soon  began  to  detest  him  for  those  qualities  so 
very  opposite  to  a  military  character.  The  people,  also, 
ist  whose  consent  he  was  chosen,  were  not  less  his 
enemies.  Whenever  he  issued  from  his  palace  they 
openly  poured  forth  their  imprecations  against  him,  cry- 
ing out  that  he  was  a  thief,  and  had  stolen  the  empire. 
Didius,  however,  in  the  true  spirit  of  a  trader,  patiently 
bore  all  their  reproach,  sometimes  beckoning;  to  them 
smiles  to  approach  him,  and  testifying  his  regard 
Ijy  every  kind  of  submission. 

Soon  after,  Severus,  an  African  by  birth,  being  pro 
ned  by  his  army,  began  by  promising  to  revenge 
»he  death  of  Pertinax. 

Didius,  upon  being  informed  of  his  approach  towards 
Home,  obtained  the  consent  of  the  senate  to,  send  him 


250  THE  HISTOin  [£ 

ambassadors,  offering  to  makt-  liim  a  partner  in  the  « 
pirc.      But  Scvcrus  rejected  this  offer,  conscious  of  hi* 
own  strength,  and  of  the  weakness  of  the  proposer     The 
•ed  of  the  Same  sentime:  Ber- 

ing the  timidity  an'  s  of  their  prev 

ter,  abandoned     im.      li  ^-d  togetht 

1  in  the  times  of  the  common 
con- 

deprived  of  the  empire,  and  that  Scvcrus  should  be  pro- 

].     The,  us  to  be 

irrs  forth!  lace, 

\vh<-  him 

among  a  tc  still  adht  rest. 

tfert  rs  for  the  empire,  undei  the 

rcii  :iment,  nnifinp  gre 

.    for  he  ^ 
<  ulardcft 

elekratcd  for  his  \  ;ng,  an*l 

den  ncd   for  perfidy  and  cruelty.     In 

short,  ht  .pablc  r>f  the  greatest  acts  of 

the  most  blrx 
Upon  his  return  t< 

rew.  cm   such  s  as 

his  own  ;  ale  they  destroyed  that 

abuse  of  power,  were 
now  -,  of  emperors. 

,  turn  for  irms 

'iist  tfce  P  then  invading  the  fron- 

i  of  flhc  empire.    ILivi:^,  therefore,  pr< 
the  r;o*e<ro merit  of  domestic  policy  to  01 

i^avouritc,  to  \vliosc  daughter  he  man-it- 

set  out  for  th<  id  prosecuted 

xpcdition   and  suc<  • 
.ibmissior.  of  Armenia,  destroyed 

in  Ara1  landed  on  the 

coar-  ud  plundered  the  famous  city  of  Ctesiphon, 

marched   back  through  Palestine  and    I  d  at 

length  t'etuafeA  to  Rome  in  triumph. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  2s  i 

During  this  interval,  Plautian,  who  was  left  to  direct 
the  affairs  of  Rome,  began  to  think  of  aspiring  to  the 
empire  himself.    Upou  the  emperor's  reiurn  he  employ- 
ed a  tribune  of  the  praetorian  cohorts,  of  which  he  was 
the  commander,  to  assassinate  him,  as  likewise  his  son 
Caracalla.     The  tribune  informed  Severus  of  his  favour* 
he's  treachery.     He  at  first  received  it  as  an  improbable 
slory,  and  as  the  artifice  of  one  who  envied  his  favourite's 
for- une.     However  he  was  at  last  persuaded  to  permit 
the  tribune  to  conduct  Plautian  to  the  emperor's  apart- 
ments, to  be  a  testimony  against  himself      With  this  in- 
tent the  tribune  went  and  amused  him  with  a  pretended 
account  of  his  killing  the  emperor  and  his  son  ;  desiring 
him,  if  he  thought  fit  to  see  them  dead,  to  go  with  him 
.to  the  palace.     As  Plautian  ardently  desired  their  deaths 
he   readily   gave  credit  to  his  relation  ;  and   following 
the  tribune,  was  conducted  at  midnight  into  the  inner- 
most recesses.     But  what  must  have  been  his  disap- 
pointment, when,  instead  of  finding  the  emperor  lying 
dead  as  he  expected,  he  beheld  the  room  lighted  up  with 
torches,  and  Severus,  surrounded  by  his  friends,  prepar- 
ed in  array  to  receive  him.    Being  asked  by  the  emperor, 
i  a  stern  countenance,  what  had  brought  him  there  at 
that  unseasonable  time,  he  was  at  first  utterly  confound- 
and  not  knowing  what  excuse  to  make-  he  ingenu- 
ously confessed  the  whole.intreating  forgiveness  for  what 
tended.     The  emperor  seemed  inclined  to  par- 
don :  but  Caracalla,  his  son,  who,  from  the  earliest  age? 
.veil  a  disposition  to  cruelty,  with  his  sword  ran  him 
•ij.jh  the  body. 

After  this  he  spent  a  considerable  time  in  visiting  some 
cities  in  Italy,  permitting  none  of  his  officers  to  sell  pla- 
ces of  trust  or  dignity*  and  distributing  justice  with  the 
strictest  impartiality.  He  then  undertook  an  expedition 
into  Britain,  where  the  Romans  were  in  danger  of  being 
destroyed  or  compelled  to  fly  the  province.  Wherefore, 
after  appointing  his  two  sons,  Caracalla  and  Geta,  joint 
successors  in  the  empire,  and  taking  them  with  him,  he 
fowled  in  Britain,  to  the  great  tevor  of  such  as  hud  drawn 
down  his  resentment  Upon  his  progress  into  the  coun- 
try, he  left  his  son  Geta  in  the  southern  part  of  the  pro- 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti: 

vincc,  which  had  continued  in  obedience,  and 

wit:.  I'aracuila  .  this 

expedition  his  army  suffered  prodigious  hardship- 

to  hew 
\vay  turough  intricate  forest 

lost 

B  by  fatigue  ai. 
he  supported  all  ihcse  ii  ting 

.   lied  the  i  !n-g   for   ; 

dcr  of  a  consider- 
part  of  their  country.     It  was  there,    thai,   fur   its 
better  security,  he  built  that  famous 
goes  by  I. 

•-,   to  the  (  iii  on  the  cast.     He  di<: 

ccesscs  here,  but  < 

•.in  year  01  though  < 

reign  of  about  eighteen 

j'     J      know  i  .  be- 

.  mutual  hatred  to   i 

even  bei     -  e.     But  I 

was  of  no  long  continuance  , 
..lone,  fui ' 

-  slew  him  in  BIS. 

..peror,  he  went  on 

^itli  blo«  lever  was  dor. (  \ero 

fell  short  of  this  monster's 
at  length  excited  the  n 

manderofthe  forces  in    Mi  yed 

one  >  ijjth  and  a  centurion  of 

the  guards  to  the  em- 

peror was  riding  out  one  day,  near  a    little  city    called 
Carrac,  he  happened  to  \  himself  ; 

a  natural  occasion,  \\iih  only  one  pa;.;-c  to  hold  I 
This  was   the  opportu:  ar- 

dently desired  ;   wherefore  r  »s  if 

he  had  been  called,  he  stabbed  th-  :  in  the  1> 

so  that  he  died  immediately.     11  i  formed  this 

y  attempt,  he  then  unconcernedly  returned  to  Ins 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  253 

troop  ;  but  retiring  by  insensible  degrees,  he  endeavour^ 
ed  to  secure  himself  by  flight.  But  his  companions  sqon 
missing  him,  and  the  page  giving  information  of  what 
had  been  done,  he  was  pursued  by  the  German  horse  anci 
cut  in  pieces. 

During  the  reign  of  this  execrable  tyrant,  which  con- 
tinued six  years,  the  empire  was  every  day  declining ; 
the  soldiers  were  entirely  masters  of  every  election ;  and 
as  there  were  various  armies  in  different  parts,  so  there 
were  as  many  interests,  all  opposite  to  each  other. 
UC  970  The  soldiers,  without  an  emperor,  after  a 
AD  217  SU9Pence  of  two  days,  fixed  upon  Macrinus, 
who  took  all  possible  methods  to  conceal  his 
being  privy  to  Caracalla's  murder.  The  senate  confirm- 
ed their  choice  shortly  after,  and  likewise  that  of  his 
son,  Diadumenus,  whom  he  took  as  a  partner  in  the  em?- 
pire.  Macrinus  was  fifty-three  years  old  when  he  enter*- 
ed  upon  the  government  of  the  empire.  He  was  of  ob- 
scure parentage,  some  say  by  birth  a  Moor ;  who,  by  the 
mere  rotation  of  office,  being  made  first  praefect  of  the 
praetorian  bands,  was  now  by  treason  and  accident  called 
to  fill  the  throne. 

He  was  opposed  by  the  intrigues  of  Mosa  and  her 
grandson,  Heliogabalus  ;  and  being  conquered  by  some 
seditious  legions  of  his  own  army,  he  fled  to  Chalcedon, 
•where  those  who  were  sent  in  pursuit  overtook  and  put 
him  to  death,  together  with  his  son  Diadumenus,  after  a 
short  reign  of  one  year  and  two  months. 
U  C  97  ^  ^e  senale  and  citizens  of  Rome  being 

AD  218  °k%ec*  to  submit  to  the  appointment  of  the 
'  army  as  usual.  Heliogabalus  ascended  the 
throne  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  His  short  life  is  but  a 
tissue  of  effeminacy,  lust  and  extravagance.  He  mar- 
ried, in  the  small  space  of  four  years,  six  wives,  and  di- 
vorced them  all.  He  was  so  fond  of  the  sex,  that  he  car- 
ried his  mother  with  him  to  the  senate  house,  and  de- 
manded that  she  should  always  be  present  when  matters 
of  importance  were  debated.  He  even  went  so  far  as 
to  build  a  senate  house  for  women,  with  suitable  orders, 
habits,  and  distinctions,  of  which  his  mother  was  made 
Y 


THE  HISTORY  OF  Ti 

ident.     They  met  several  times  :  all  their  debates 
lurnms  upon  the  fashions  of  tin  !  the  diftV 

ion,.  •.£  and  ix,  To 

ruelty  and  boundless  prodi- 
s  as 
i 

..  he  strove  to  foretell  v. 
insi) 
lie  chose  the  most  beautiful  youths  tl.  !>•   to 

ose. 
n.  u  tiny  ing,  as  was  now 

him  to  hi^  pursuing 

.rtmcnt  i- 

;ed  him  from 
irough  the  streets 

hcd  him,  they  attempted  once  more 
;>crecl  IKK!)  into  a  privy  ;  but  not  i 
ly  eflcrlinp  tl  icr,  >\ith 

. 

nth  year  of  his  age  .able 

reign  of  four  years. 

\isin 
;  de- 
conferring  neu  titles  upon  him  ;  but 
he  nv      -»•        oclined  them  ^11. 

tice   he  added  tlu  the 

goo  r  of  the  lewd  and  inl- 

and 

lly  skilful  in  \ 
i  in  poetry,  tew  of  his  time  could  c  In 

•.t  though  but  oars  of  age,  he 

cred  as  a  wise  old  man. 

•••.t  the  thirtct;  of  his  reign,  the  I 

Germans,  and  other  northern   nations,  be^an  to  { 
down  immense  swarms  of  people  upon  the  me 
era  part*  of  the  empire.  Tl<  I  the  Rhine  and  UM 

Danube  with  such  fury,  that  all  Italy  was  thrown  into 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  255 

the  most  extreme  consternation .  The  emperor  ever  rea- 
dy to  expose  his  person  for  the  safety  of  his  people,  made 
what  levies  he  could,  and  went  in  person  to  stem  the 
torrent,  which  he  speedily  effected.  It  was  in  the  course 
of  his  successes  against  the  enemy  that  he  was  rut  off 
by  a  mutiny  among  his  own  soldiers.  He  died  in  the 
twenty  -ninth  year  of  his  age,  after  a  prosperous  reign 
of  thirteen  years  and  nine  days. 

IT  C  988  The  tumults  occasioned  by  the  death  of 
*'.  ,  "  Alexander  being  appeased,  Maximin,  who 
'  had  been  the  chief  promoter  of  the  sedition, 
was  chosen  emperor.  This  extraordinary  man,  whose 
character  deserves  particular  attention,  was  born  of  very 
obscure  parentage,  being  the  son  of  a  poor  herdsman 
of  Thrace.  In  the  beginning-,  he  followed  his  father's 
humble  profession,  and  only  exercised  his  personal  cou- 
rage agninst  the  robbers,  who  infested  that  part  of  the 
country  in  which  he  lived.  Soon  after,  his  ambition  in- 
creasing, he  left  his  poor  employment,  and  enlisted  in 
the  Roman  army,  where  he  soon  became  remarkable  for 
his  great  strength,  discipline,  and  courage.  This  gigan- 
tic man  was  no  less  than  eight  feet  and  an  half  high  ;  he 
had  a  body  and  strength  corresponding  to  his  size,  being 
not  less  remarkable  for  the  magnitude  than  the  sym- 
metry of  his  person  His  wife's  bracelet  usually  served 
him  for  a  thumb  ring;  and  his  strength  was  so  great 
that  he  was  able  to  draw  a  carriage  which  two  oxen 
could  not  move.  He  could  strike  out  a  horse's  teeth 
with  a  blow  of  his  fist,  aed  break  its  thigh  bone  with  a 
kick.  His  diet  was  as  extraordinary  as  the  rest  of  his 
endowments  :  he  generally  ate  forty  pounds  weight  of 
flesh  every  day,  and  drank  six  gallons  of  wine,  without 
committing  any  debauch  in  either.  With  a  frame  so 
athletic,  he  was  possessed  of  a  mind  undaunted  in  dan- 
ger, and  neither  fearing  nor  regarding  any  man.  The 
first  time  he  was  made  known  was  to  the  emperor  Seve- 
rus,  who  was  then  celebrating  games  on  the  birth  day 
of  his  son  Geta.  He  overcame  sixteen  in  running,  one 
after  the  other  ;  he  then  kept  up  with  the  emperor  on 
horseback ;  and,  having  fatigued  him  in  the  course,  he 
opposed  to  seven  of  the  most  active  soldiers,  and 


256  THE  HISTORY  OF  TI 

overcame  them  with  the  greatest  ease.  From  that  time 
lie  was  particularly  noticed,  and  taken  into  the  emperor's 
body  guard,  and,  by  UK  •  •  radation  of  preferment, 
came  to  the  chief  command,  eq  .  ie  for  his 

•implicit?,  discipline,  and  virtue  ;  and,  upon  coming  to 
:id  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  mon- 
ster :.it  ever  disgraced  j  id  fearful 
of  nothi;:  (lie  seemed  to  sport  "with  the  terrors 
of  all  • 

hia  cruelties  did  not  retard  his  military  ope- 

ricd  on  v  it  becomi 

bitter  monarch.      !  thcGcrn. 

billies,  wailed   all   their  c 
for  four  ;.  n  of 

em  nations  as  far  as  the  cc 

In  these  expc  order  to  attach  the  soldiers  r 

firmly  to  him,  he  increased  their  pay  ;  and  in  t 
duty  of  the  camp  he  himself  took  as  mu  I  n  the 

icst  cenlinel  in  his  army,  shewing  incredible  cou- 
tagc  iuily-     I.,  t  nt,  whe:< 

the  conflict  was  hottest,  Maximin  was  always  seen  f. 
in£  there  in  person,  and  destroying  all  before  him  ;  for, 
being  bred  a  barbarian,  he  considered  it  ;.  y  to 

combat  as  a  c  Idier,  while  he  commanded  as  a 

gent 

In  the  mean  time,  his  cruelties  bad  to  the 

Is  of  his  subjects,  that  several  co;.  c  se- 

cretly rimed  against  him.     None  of  t !  sue- 

as  own  soldiers,  being  long  1, 
•nine  and 

.tc  their  calamities 

death,     i  >s  arm- 

at  first  the  principal  motives  to  deter  any  from 
,iin  ;  but  alien.  j  made  In 

•.  set  upon  him  while  lie 
v  both  hi:  -on, 

a  he  had  made  his  partner  in  the  empire,  without 
'•pposition.     Thus  died  this  most  remarkable  man, 

about  three  years,  and    in 
:  year  of  his  age.     His  assiduity  when  in  hum- 
'. en  in  power, e.  well 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  257 

to  evince  that  there  are  some  men  whose  virtues  are 
fitted  for  obscurity,  as  there  are  others  who  only  shew 
themselves  great  when  placed  in  an  exalted  station. 
U  C  991  ^ne  tyrant  oeulg  dead,  and  his  body 
AD  238  tnrow11  to  d°Ss  and  kirds  °f  Prey '  Pupienus 
'  and  Balbinus  continued  for  some  time  empe- 
rors without  opposition. 

But  differing  among  themselves,  the  praetorian  sol- 
diers, who  were  the  enemies  of  both,  set  upon  them  in 
their  palace,  at  a  time  when  their  guards  were  amused 
with  seeing  the  Capitoline  games,  and  dragging  them 
from  the  palace  towards  the  camp,  slew  them  both,  leav- 
ing their  dead  bodies  in  the  streets  as  a  dreadful  instance 
of  their  sedition. 

U  C  991  *n  tne  mi(^st  °f  tn*s  sedition,  as  the  muti- 
\  D  238  neerswere  proceeding  along,  they  by  acci- 
dent met  Gordian,  the  grandson  of  him  who 
was  slain  in  Africa,  whom  they  declared  emperor  on  the 
spot.  This  prince  was  but  sixteen  years  old  when  he  be- 
gan his  reign  ;  but  his  virtues  seemed  to  compensate  for 
his  want  of  experience.  His  principal  aims  were  to  unite 
the  opposing  members  of  the  government,  and  to  recon- 
cile the  soldiers  and  citizens  to  each  other. 

The  army,  however,  began  as  usual  to  murmur,  and 
their  complaints  were  artfully  fomented  by  Philip,  an 
Arabian,  who  was  praetorian  praefect.  Things  then  pro- 
ceeding from  bad  to  worse,  Philip  was  at  first  mucie 
equal  in  the  command  of  the  empire  ;  shortly  after,  he 
\vas  invested  with  the  sole  power  ;  and  at  length*  find- 
ing himself  capable  of  perpetrating  his  long  meditated 
cruelty,  Gordian  was,  by  his  or  -^r,  slam  in  the  twenty- 
second  year  of  his  age,  after  a  successful  reign  of  near 
six  years. 

U  C   996        Philip,  having  thus  murdered  his  benefac- 

A  D  243*   tor'  was  so  *°nunate  as  to  be  immediately" 

5    acknowledged  emperor  by  the  army.    Upon 

his  exaltation,  he  associated  his  son,  a  boy  of  six  years' 

of  age,  as  his  partner  in  the  empire  ;  and,  in  order  to 

secure  his  power  at  home,  made  peace  with  the  Persians, 

*>nd  marched  his  army  towards  Rome.    However,  the 

Y  2 


258  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

army  revolting  in  favour  of  Dccius  hi  ,  and  set- 

violently  upon  him,  one  of  the  ceniinels,  at  a  t  '•. 
cut  oil'  his  head,  or  rather  c  1. 
the  ,i  the  upper.    He  died  in  the  1 

year  of  his  ao;e,  after  a  rcif^n  of  about  nvc 
being  universally  declare 

10Q1        The  ar:  ••  isdom  o: 

•.)    2*tQ    c  measure  to  stop  the  haste 

me  of  t  ha  Roman  empi :  senate 

»eem«d  to  thi-  merits,  that  i: 

him 

every  instance  to  consult  their  dignity  ui  j 
the  welfare  of  ull  the  ii  ks  of  thepeoi 

:io  virtues  could  now  prevent  t! 
:ifal  of  the  state  :   t 

Pagans  •  the 

.o\it, 

cnfecMc."  .cmcdy.     He   was 

killed  in  an  ar 

of  his  age,  a  oi'  twe  years 

month*. 

1()0  j        Callus,  who  had  betrayed  the  Roma' 

to  pet  hioisel! 

cd  emperor  by  that  part  of  it 
.  cl  the  defeat ;  he  %••  vears  old 

s  descended  from  an  honou 
me.     lie  was  the  first  who  bought  a  dis- 
honourable peace  from  the  enemies  of  the  state,  agree- 

I  tribute  to  the  Goths, 
::y  lo  repress. 

:d  lost 
•o  (V  al   sensuality.     The  Pagans 

uting  the  Christians  through  all  parts 
e  calamities  were  succeeded 
tilcncc  from  Heaven,  tl  cd  to  have,  in 

.id  over  every  pan  of  the  earth,  and  which  con: 

several  years,  in  an  unheard  of  manner  ; 
Sy  a  civil  war  which  followed  shortly  a 
het  :s  aud  his  general  .T.milianu  vmg 

cd  a  victory  over  the  Goths,  was  prcc  npe- 

:  ing  army.     Gallus  heariug  ' 


KMPIRE  OF  ROME.  259 

roused  from  the  intoxication  of  pleasure,  and  prepared 
to  oppose  his  dangerous  rival ;  he,  with  his  son,  were 
slain  by  jEmilianus  in  a  battle  fought  in  Mesia.  His 
death  was  merited,  and  his  vices  were  such  as  to  deserve 
the  detestation  of  posterity.  He  died  in  the  forty-se- 
venth year  of  his  age,  after  an  unhappy  reign  of  two 
years  and  four  months,  in  which  the  empire  suffered 
inexpressible  calamities. 

U  C    1006        ^'ie  senate  refused  to  acknowledge  the 
AD    2srt    c^ms  of  ^-milianus  ;    and  an  army  that 
was  stationed  near  the  Alps,  chose  Valerian, 
their  own  commander,  to  succeed  to  the  throne,  who  set 
about  reforming  the  state,  with  a  spirit  that  seemed  to 
mark  a  good  mind  and  unabated  vigour.     But  reforma- 
tion was  then  grown  almost  impracticable.     The  Per- 
sians, under  their  king  Sapor,  invaded  Syria,  and,  com- 
ing into  Mesopotamia,  took  the  unfortunate  Valerian  pri- 
soner, as  he  was  making  preparations  to  oppose  them. 
Notliing  could  exceed  the  indignities,  as  well  as  the  cru- 
elties which  were  practised  upon  this  unhappy  monarch 
thus  fallen  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.     Sapor,  we  are 
told,  always  used  him  as  a  footstool  for  mounting  his 
horse  ;  he  added  the  bitterness  of  ridicule  to  his  insults^ 
and  usually  observed,  "  that  an  attitude  like  that  to  which 
"  Valerian  was  reduced  was  the  best  statue  that  could 
11  be  erected  in  honour  of  his  victory."     This  horrid  life 
of  insult  and  sufferance  continued  for  seven  years,  and 
was  at  length  terminated  by  the  cruel  Persian's  com- 
manding his  prisoner's  eyes  to  be  plucked  out,  and  after- 
wards causing  him  to  be  flayed  alive. 
UC    1012      Valerian  being  taken  prisoner,  as  hath  beew 
\  D    259    just  mentioned,  Galienus  his  son,  promising 
to  revenge  the  insult,  was  chosen  emperor, 
S  then  about  forty-one  years  old.     However,  he  soon 
overed  that  he  sought  rather  the  splendours  than  the 
toils  of  empire  ;  for,  after  having  overthrown  Ingenus, 
a  commander  in  Pannonia,  who  had  assumed  the  title  of 
emperor,  he  sat  down,  as  if  fatigued  with  conquest,  and 
himself  up  to  ease  and  luxury. 
M  at  this  time  that  no  less  than  thirty  pretenders 


260  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

were  seen  contending  with  each  other  for  the  dominion 
of  the  state,  and  adding  the  calamities  of  civil  war  to 
the  rest  of  the  misfortunes  of  thisdevotedempire.  These 
are  generally  known  in  history  by  the  name  of  the  Tlrir- 

mts. 
In  this  general  calamity,  Galienus,  though  at  first 

>lc,  was  at  let. 
ae  sccun 

besiege  the  city  of  Milan,  which  had  been  taken  by' one 
of  the  thirty  usurping  tyrants.  It  was  there 

by  his  own  soldiers  ;   Martian,  one  of  his  generals, 
inspired  against  him. 

Ur    ,r. , .        1!  .>  being  nominated  to  sue- 

•  \s«   I  W«  1  •  ,     .  r    1 1  it  it 

)    268    cec(i'  ne  vas  J0>'ful1  !  bX  allot 

of  the  state,  and  h".  .firmed  by  the 

senate  and  the  people.     We  arc  not  sufficiently  assured 
of  this  emperor's  lineage  and  country .     S<  •  : 
he  was  born  it  i,  and  descended  from  ;.i 

family  there  ;   otht 

others  still,  that  he  was  son  to  the  emperor  < 
But  might  have  been  his  <!•  erits 

were  by  no  means  doubtful.     He  was  a  man  of  y 

cl  condur  performed  the  most  excel- 

lent services  against  th  'tad  long  continued 

to  make  their  irruptions  into  the  empire  ;  but  on  his 
roar 

near  the  city  of  Si  tc  was  sc 

with  a  pestilential  fever,  of 

to  the  great  regret  oft  s,  and  the  irreparable 

loss  of  the  Roman  cm; 

»j  p    .02«  :ie  death   of  Claudius, 

AD    '"'O*   Wfts  universallX   acknowledged  by  all  the 
npire,  and  assumed  the  com- 
mand with  a  greater  share  of  power  than 
sors  had   enjoyed  for  some  time  before 
monarch  was  born  of  mean  and  obscure  parentage  in 
U  about  fil  old  at  the  time  of 

his  corning  to  the  throne.  .  He  bad  spent  the  early  part 
of  his  life  in  the  army,  and  had  risen  through  all  the 
gradations  of  military  duty.  He  was  of  unshaken  cou- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  26i 

rage  and  amazing  strength  •>  he  in  one  single  engage- 
ment killed  forty  of  the  enemy  with  his  own  hand,  and 
above  nine  hundred  at  several  different  times.  In  short, 
his  valour  and  expedition  were  such,  that  he  was  compa- 
red to  Julius  Caesar,  and  in  fact  only  wanted  mildness 
and  clemency  to  be  every  way  his  equal. 

Among  the  number  of  those  who  were  compelled  to 
submit  to  his  power,  we  may  reckon  the  famous  Zeno- 
bia,  queen  of  Palmyra.  He  subdued  her  country,  de- 
stroyed her  citf,  and  took  her  prisoner.  Longinus,  the 
celebrated  critic,  who  was  secretary  to  the  queen*  was  by 
Aurelian's  order  put  to  death.  Zenobia  was  reserved 
race  his  triumph,  and  afterwards  allotted  such  lands, 
and  such  an  income,  as  served  to  maintain  her  in  almost 
her  former  splendour. 

His  severities  at  last  were  the  cause  of  his  destruction. 
Moncsteus,  his  principal  secretary,  having  been  threaten- 
ed by  him  for  some  fault  which  he  had  committed,  form- 
ed a  conspiracy  against  him  ;  and  as  the  emperor  passed 
with  a  small  guard  from  Uraclea  in  Thrace  towards  By- 
zantium, the  conspirators  set  upon  him  at  once,  and  slew 
him  with  very  small  resistance.  He  was  slain  in  the 
sixtieth,  or,  as  some  say,  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age, 
after  a  very  active  reign  of  almost  five  years. 
TT  P  1028  After  some  time  the  senate  made  choice 
AD  275  °^  Tacitus,  a  man  of  great  merit,  and  no 
r*  way  ambitious  of  the  honours  that  were  of- 
fered him,  being  at  that  time  seventy-five  years  old. 

A  reign  begun  with  much  moderation  and  justice, 
only  wanted  continuance  to  have  made  the  empire  hap- 
py ;  but  after  enjoying  the  empire  about  six  months,  he 
died  of  a  fever,  in  his  march  to  oppose  the  Persians  and 
Scythians,  who  had  invaded  the  eastern  parts  of  the 
empire. 

During  this  short  period,  the  senate  seemed  to  have  a 
large  share  of  authority  ;  and  the  historians  of  the  times 
are  one  and  all  liberal  of  their  praises  to  such  emperors 
as  were  thus  willing  to  divide  their  power. 

Upon  the  death  of  Tacitus,  the  whole  army,  as  if  by 
rommon  consent,  cried  out  that  Probus  should  be  em- 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

peror.     He  was  forty-four  years  old  when  he  ascended 
the  throne  ;  was  born  of  noble  parentage  at  Sinniu: 
Paunoniu,  and  bred  up  a  soldier  from  his  youth.     He 
•n  early  to  if  for  his  discipline  and 

ir,  being  frequently  the  first  man  that. 
towns,  scaled  the  walls,  or  that  burst  into  the  • 
camp.     1  jually  remarkable  for  single  combats, 

eminent  <  :  nor  were 

•y  and  co  hen  elected  to  the  empire, 

rent  than  in  his  private  station, 
produced  only  new  calamities  to  the  empire,  and 
fresh  irruptions  on    c^  universal 

desolation  :  pet  ha; 
those  of  Probus,  were  capable  of  opposing  such  u; 

However,  in  the  end,  his  own  mutinous  soldiers,  tak- 
ing their  opportunity,  as  he  was  marching  into  Greece, 
set  upon  and  slew  him,  after  he  had  reigned  six  years 
and  four  months  with  genera: 

U  Q    |035  nprifecttothe 

,,0      deceased  emperor,  was  chosen  by  the  army 

to  s  .ic,tostrci, 

authority,  um  .  o  sons,  Carin 

with  him  in  command  ;  the  former  of 
sullied  b\  h  as  the  younger  was  rem-u  Ruble  for 

bU  virtues,  modesty,  and  courage.      ».  >rlly 

exaltation  strxick  r!<  htning  in  his  tent, 

with  many  others  that  were  round  hi 

n,  the  youngest  son,  who  accompanied  his 
Hither  in  this  expeditio:  onsolable  for  his  death, 

and  hroi;  irder  upon  hi  th  weep- 

:  ried  alon  c  ar- 

shut  up  in  a  close  litter.  The  peculiarity  of  hi 
nation,  after  some  time,  excited  the  ambition  of  A 
his  father-in-law ,  who  supposed  that  he  could  now,  v 

:  danger,  aim  at  the  empire  himself.  He 
therefore  hired  a  mercenary  villian  to  murder  the  em- 
peror in  his  litter  ;  and  the  better  to  conceal  the  fact, 
c  out  that  he  was  still  alive,  but  unable  to  endure 
the  light.  The  offensiveness  of  his  smell,  however,  at 
length  discovered  the  treachery,  and  excited  an  univef- 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  263 

sal  uproar  throughout  the  whole  army.  In  the  midst  of 
this  tumult.  Dioclesian,  one  of  the  most  noted  command- 
ers of  his  time,  was  chosen  emperor,  and  with  his  own 
hand  slew  Asper ;  having  thus,  as  it  is  said,  fulfilled  a 
prophecy,  which  had  said  that  Diocksian  should  be  em- 
peror after  he  had  slain  a  Boar. 

Carinus,  the  remaining  son,  did  not  long  survive  his 
father  and  brother. 
IT   C    10"7         Dioclesian  was  a  person  of  mean  birth, 

AT)  being  supposed  to  be,  according  to  some, 

the  son  of  a  scrivener  ;  and  of  a  slave,  ac- 
cording to  others.  He  received  his  name  from  Dio- 
clea,  the  town  in  which  he  was  born,  being  forty  years 
old  when  he  was  elected  to  the  empire.  He  owed  his 
exaltation  entirely  to  his  merit,  having  passed  through 
all  the  gradations  of  office  with  sagacity,  courage,  and 
success. 

In  his  time,  the  northern  hive,  as  it  was  called,  pour- 
ed down  their  swarms  of  barbarians  upon  the  Roman 
empire.  Ever  at  war  with  the  Romans,  they  issued, 
when  the  armies  that  were  to  suppress  their  invasions 
were  -called  away  ;  and,  upon  their  return,  they  as  sud- 
denly withdrew  into  their  cold,  barren,  and  inaccessibly 
retreats,  which  only  themselves  could  endure.  In  this 
manner  the  Scythians,  Goths,  Sarmatians,  Alani,  Car- 
sii,  and  Quadi,  came  down  in  incredible  numbers,  while 
every  defeat  seemed  but  to  increase  their  strength  and 
perseverance.  After  gaining  many  victories  over  these, 
and  in  the  midst  of  his  triumphs,  Dioclesian  and  Maxi- 
mian,  his  partner  in  the  empire,  surprised  the  world  by 
resigning  their  dignities  on  the  same  day,  and  both  re- 
tiring into  private  stations.  In  this  contented  manner 
Dioclesiun  lived  some  time,  and  at  last  died,  either  by 
poison  or  madness ;  but  this  is  uncertain.  His  reign, 
wbich  continued  twenty  years,  was  active  and  useful  ; 
and  his  authority,  which  was  tinctured  with  severity, 
was  well  adapted  to  the  depraved  state  of  morals  at  that 
time. 
U  C  1057  Upon  the  resignation  of  the  two  empe- 

.  '  Q*  rors,  the  two  Caesars,  whom  they  had  be- 

1    fore  chosen,  were  universally  acknow- 


36*  THE  HISTORY  OF  TI. 

ledged  as  their  successors,  namely,  Constamius  Chlr 
who  was  so  called  from  the  paleness  of  his  com} 
ion,  being  virtuous,  valiant,   and    merciful ;  and  Gale- 
rius,  who  was  brave,  but  brutal,  incontinent,  and  cruel. 
As  there  was  such  a  <i  in  their  tempers,  they 

;rced,  upon  coming  into  full    power,  to  c!r 
the  empire,  Constantius  being  appointed  to  govern  the 

icd  in  Britain,  appointing  Constantine 
his  son  as   his  successor.     Galerius  was  seizid  \\ith  a 
inary  disorder  in  his  pi.  i.ich  baf- 

fled all  the  skill  ot  ,   off, 

after  he  had  languished  in  torments  for  near  the  space 
of  a  year. 

.     106.          Constantine,  afterwards  surnamed  the 
.ad  s*me  competitors  at  first  for 
1    the  throne.     Among  the  ri  >xen- 

tins,  who  was  at  that  time  in  possession  ot 
stedfast  asserter  of  Paganism.     It  w.  me's 

mar  that  usurper  that  weare  assured  he  was  con- 

verted lot  nybyavery  extract 

ic  told,  the  army   being  upon  its 
march   towards  Rome.  \\ith 

ions  upon  the  fate  of  sublunary  th- 
an d  the  dangers  of  his  approaching  expedition:   s<. 
ble  of  his  own  incapacity  to  succeed  without  divine  as- 
aice,  heemph  editations  upon  the  opii 

werechii  'i-d  amnnr  t  up 

Dilations  to  Heaven  to  inspire  him  with  wisdom  to 
chuse  the  path  to  pursue.     It  was  then,  as  the  sui 
dccl.  ->t  there  suddenly  appeu 

in  the  heavens,  in  the  fashion  of  a  cross,  \\itl 
scription,  In  (hi*  o-crrcvmr. 

did  not  fail  to  create  astonishment  both  in  tin 
peror  and  his  whole  army,  who  considered  it  as  their 

:is   led  them  to  believe.     Those 
were  attached  to  1  .  prompted  by  her 

pronounced  it  to  be  a  most  inauspicious  omen,  por- 

the  most  unfortunate  events  :  but  it  mack 
cm  impression  on  the  emperor's  mind,  v 
count  g-  rther  encouraged  by  visions  the  same 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  2$5 

night.  He  therefore,  the  day  following,  caused  a  royal 
standard  to  be  made,  like  that  which  he  had  seen  in  the 
heavens,  and  commanded  it  to  be  carried  before  him  in 
his  wars,  as  an  ensign  of  victory  and  celestial  protection. 
After  this  he  consulted  with  several  of  the  principal 
teachers  of  Christianity,  and  made  a  public  avowal  of 
that  sac  red  persuasion. 

Constantine  having  thus  attached  his  soldiers  to  his 
interest,  who  were  most  of  the  Christian  persuasion,  lost 
no  time  in  entering  Italy  with  ninety  thousand  foot,  and 
eight  thousand  horse,  and  soon  advanced  almost  to  the 
very  gates  of  Rome.  Maxentius  advanced  from  the 
city  with  an  army  of  an  hundred  and  seventy  thousand 
foot,  and  eighteen  thousand  horse.  The  engagement 
was  for  some  time  fierce  and  bloody,  till  his  cavalry 
being  routed,  victory  declared  upon  the  side  of  his  op- 
ponent :  and  he  himself  was  drowned  in  his  flight,  by 
the  breaking  down  of  a  bridge,  as  he  attempted  to  cross 
the  Tiber. 

Constantine,  in  consequence  of  this  victory,  entering 
the  city,  disclaimed  all  praises  which  the  senate  and  peo- 
ple were  ready  to  offer,  ascribing  his  success  to  a  supe- 
rior power.  He  even  caused  the  cross,  which  he  was 
said  to  have  seen  in  the  heavens,  to  be  placed  at  the  right 
of  all  his  statues,  with  this  inscription,  "  That  under  the 
"  influence  of  that  victorious  cross,  Constantine  had  de- 
"  livered  the  city  from  the  yoke  of  tyrannical  power  ; 
"  and  had  restored  the  senate  and  people  of  Rome  to 
*(  their  ancient  authority."  He  afterwards  ordained, 
that  no  criminal  should  for  the  future  suffer  death  by  the 
cross,  which  had  formerly  been  the  most  usual  way  of 
punishing  slaves  convicted  of  capital  offences.  Edicts 
were  soon  after  issued,  declaring,  that  the  Christians 
should  be  eased  from  all  their  grievances,  and  received 
into  places  of  trust  and  authority. 

Things  continued  in  this  state  for  some  time,  Constan- 
tine contributing  what  was  in  his  power  to  the  interest 
of  religion,  and  the  revival  of  learning,  which  had  long 
been  upon  the  decline,  and  was  almost  wholly  ext^ct  in 
the  empire.  But  in  the  midst  of  these  assiduities^  thfe 
Z 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THL 

peace  of  the  empire  was  again  disturbed  by  the  prepa- 
ns  of  Maximin,  who  governed  in  the  East,  and  who, 
ous  of  a  full  participation  of  power,  inarched  against 
liuswith  A  very  numerous  army.    In  consequence  of 
^tep,  after  many  conflicts,  a  general  engagement  en- 
sued, in  uhich  Maximin  suffered  a  total  defeat  ;  many 
of  his  troops  were  cut  to  pieces,  and  those  that  sun 
submitted  to  the  conqueror.     Having,  however,  escaped 
the  general  carnage,  he  once  more  put  himself  at  the 

otry  the  fortune  of  the 

field  ;  but  his  death  prevented  the  design.     As  he  died 
by  a  very  extraordinary  kind  of  madness,  the  chrisi; 

horn  he  was  the  declared  enemy,  did  not  fail  to  as- 
cribe his  end  to  a  judgment  from  heaven;  but  this 
the  i  nts  and  false  miracles 

up  the  bulk  of  uni:  ory. 

ustantinc  nius  thus  :  ;ted 

in  the  en 
peaceable  continuance,  of  friendshi; 

>on  found  that  the  s 
aimed  i\i\  .  would  be  content  with  nothing 

:i  writers  ascribe  the  rupture  be- 
n  these  two  potentates  to  Constantine  ;  while  the 
Christians,  on  the  other  hand,  impute  it  wholly  t' 
cinius.     Both  sides  exerted  all  tl  op- 

position, and,  at  the  head  of  very  formidable  amc 

to  an  engagement  ; 

tine,  a  to  the  battle,  in  the  midst  of  hi 

turn  bishops,  begged  tl.  ncc  of  H^  hilc 

Licinius,  wiiii  lied  upon  the  :  icsts 

to  intercede  with  the  gods  j  c  success 

was  on  the  side  of  truth.     Con-  Her  an  obsti- 

nate  resistance,  became  victorious,  took  the  encr 
camp,  and  after  some  time  compelled  Licinius  to  sue 
for  a  truce,  which  was  agreed  upon.     But  this  was  of 
no  long  continuance  ;  for  soon  after,  the  war  break 
out  afresh,  and  the  rivals  coming  once  more  to  a  gene- 
ral engagement,  it  proved  decisive.    Licinius  was  entire- 
ly defeated  and  pursued  by  Constantine  into  Nicorm 
where  he  surrendered  himself  up  to  the  victoi 
first  obtained  an  oath  that  his  life  should  be  spared,  and 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  267 

that  he  should  be  permitted  to  pass  the  remainder  of 
his  days  in  retirement.  This,  however,  Constantine, 
shortly  after  broke  ;  for,  either  fearing  his  designs,  or 
finding  him  actually  engaged  in  fresh  conspiracies,  he 
commanded  him  to  be  put  to  death,  together  with  Mar- 
tian his  general,  who  sometime  before  had  been  created 
Ccesar. 

Constantine,  being  thus  sole  monarch  of  the  empire, 
resolved  to  establish  Christianity  on  so  sure  a  basis  that  no 
new  revolutions  should  sh«ke  it.  He  commanded  that 
in  all  the  provinces  of  the  empire,  the  orders  of  the  bish- 
ops should  be  exactly  obeyed.  He  called  also  a  general 
council  of  these,  in  order  to  repress  the  heresies  that  had 
already  crept  into  the  church,  particularly  that  of  Arius. 
To  this  place  repaired  about  three  hundred  ancheighteen 
bishops,  besides  a  multitude  of  presbyters  and  deacons, 
together  with  the  emperor  himself,  who  all,  except  about 
seventeen,  concurred  in  condemning  the  tenets  of  Arius ; 
and  this  heresiarch,  with  his  -associates,  was  banished  in- 
to a  remote  part  of  the  empire. 

Having  thus  restored  universal  tranquility  to  the  em- 
pire, he  was  not  able  to  ward  off  the  calamities  of  a 
more  domestic  nature.  As  the  wretched  histories  of  this 
period  are  entirely  at  variance  with  each  other,  it  is  not 
easy  to  tell  the  motives  which  induced  him  to  put  his 
wife  Fausta,  and  his  son  Crispus  to  death.  The  most 
plausible  account  is  this  :  Fausta,  the  empress,  who  was 
a  woman  of  great  beauty,  but  of  extravagant  desires, 
had  long,  though  secretly,  loved  Crispus,  Constantine's 
son  by  a  former  wife.  She  had  tried  every  art  to  inspire 
this  youth  with  a  mutual  passion  ;  and,  finding  her 
more  distant  efforts  ineffectual,  had  even  the  confidence 
to  make  him  an  open  confession  of  her  desires.  This 
produced  an  explanation  which  was  fatal  to  both.  Cris- 
pus received  her  addresses  with  detestation,  and  she,  to 
be  revenged,  accused  him  to  the  emperor.  Constantine, 
fired  at  once  with  jealousy  and  rage,  ordered  him  to  die 
without  an  hearing  :  nor  did  his  innocence  appear  till  it 
too  late  for  redress.  The  only  reparation,  there- 
fore, that  remained,  was  putting  Fausta,  the  wicked 
instrument  of  his  former  cruelty,  to  death  ;  which  was 


26B  THT£  HISTORY  OF  THE 

accordingly  executed  upon  her,  together  with  some 
others  who  had  been  accomplices  in  her  falsehood  and 
treachery. 

But  it  is  supposed,  that  all  the  good  he  did  was  not 
equal  to  rccompence  the  evil  the  empire  sustained  by  his 
. -Terring  the  seat  of  it  ffom  Rom<  ntium,  or 

Cor.  icrwards  culled.      V 

cen  the  n  .ich  induced  him  tothi» 

undertak.  Tended  at 

:  '''its  he  ;  Rome,  or  that  he  sup- 

pose linople  more  in  the  centre  of  the  empire, 

:at  he  thought  the  eastern  parts  more  require.-. 

'hey  were  all  v 

groundless.     The  empire  had  long  before  been  in  a 
:^ost  declining  st&tc  ;  but  this,  in  a  great  measure,  . 
precipitation  to   its   c!  After  this,  it  never  rc- 

bumcd  its  former  splendour,  but,  like  a  flower  transp 
cd  into  a  foreign  clime,  languished  by  degrees,  and  at 
leu  :othing. 

:o  build  a  ci'.y 

make  the  capital  of  the  world  i  and  for  this  purpose  he 
mad.  :  or; 

but  v  M,  that,  in  laying  out  the  ground 

:.;ht  up  the    line,  and  r. 

:  ie  of  the 

..horns.     Here,  the 

to  fix  the  scat  of  empire  ;  und  indeed  -emed  to 

ith  all  the  conveni  :.d  all  the 

beauties  which  might  induce  power  to  make  it  the  seat 
of  residence.  .'.uatcd  on  a  plain  that  rose  ^r 

ly  from  the  v  Commanded  that  streight  which 

unites  th<  ith  the  Kuxinc  sea. 

iurnishcd  with  all  •  which  the  mostindul- 

'icstow.  This  city,  therefore,  he  beau- 
tified with  the  most  magnificent  edifices  ; 
\  '    he  divided  it  into  fourteen  n  huilt 

'    acapitol.anamphit'  -atre,many  cluin 
and  other  public   works  :  and  having  thus  rendert 
equal  to  the  magnificence  of  his  idea,  he  dedicated  i 
v  solemn  manner  to  the  God  of  martyrs ;  an-' 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  2S0 

about  two  years  after  repaired  thither  with  his  whole 
court. 

This  removal  produced  no  immediate  alteration  in  the 
government  of  the  empire ;  the  inhabitants  of  Rome, 
though  with  reluctance,  submitted  to  the  change  ;  nor 
was  there  for  two  or  three  years  any  disturbance  in  the 
state,  until  at  length  the  Goths,  finding  that  the  Romans 
had  withdrawn  all  their  garrisons  along  the  Danube,  re- 
newed their  inroads,  and  ravaged  the  country  with  un- 
heard of  cruelty.  Constan  tine,  however,  soon  represt  their 
incursions,  and  so  straitened  them,  that  near  an  hundred 
thousand  of  their  number  perished  by  cc  .!  and  hunger. 

Another  great  error  ascribed  to  him  is  the  dividing  the 
empire  among  his  sons.  Constantino,  the  emperor's  eld- 
est son,  commanded  in  Gaul  and  the  western  provinces  ; 
Constantius,  his  second,  governed  Africa  and  Illyricum  ; 
and  Constans,  the  youngest,  ruled  in  Italy,  This  divi- 
sion of  the  empire  still  farther  contributed  to  its  downfal ; 
the  united  strength  of  the  state  being  no  longer 
brought  to  repress  invasion,  the  barbarians  fought  with 
superior  numbers,  and  conquered  at  last,  though  often 
defeated.  Constantine  was  about  sixty  years  old,  and 
had  reigned  above  thirty,  when  he  found  his  health  be- 
<;an  to  decline.  His  disorder,  which  was  an  ague,  in- 
creasing, he  went  to  Nicomedia,  where  finding  himself 
.vithout  hopes  of  a  recovery,  he  caused  himself  to  be 
baptized ;  and  having  soon  after  received  the  sacrament 
he  expired,  after  a  memorable  and  active  reign  of  a^- 
most  thirty-two  years. 

CHAP  XXV. 

i&  destruction  of  the  ROMAN  EMPIRE  after  th:: 
dt.ath  of  Constantine,  and  the  events  -which  hastened 
its  catastrophe. 

FROM  this  dreary  period  the  recovery  of  the  empire 
was  become  desperate  ;  no  wisdom  could  obviate 
its  decadence,  no  courage  oppose  the  evils  that  surround- 
ed  it  on  every  side.     Were  we  to  enter  into  a  detail  con- 
cerning the  characters  of  the  princes  of  those  times,  it 
Z  2 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

.Id  be  rather  of  the  conquerors,  not  the  conquered  : 
of  those  Gothic  chiefs  who  led  u  more  virtueus  and  more 
courageous  people  to  the  conquest  of  nations  corrupted 
by  vi 

st  unknown  to  the  Ro- 

tiious  to  them.     But  they  were  now  become  formidable, 
and  arose  in  such  numbers  that  the  earth  seemed  to 
•luce  a  new  race  o:  1  to  complete  the   ^ 

uction.  their  hideous 

he  opportunity  of  < 
Jiito  ;vourablc 

ml ; 
v  evil  off  n< 

and  obscu 

'>  had  to  i  ;>coplc 

- 
!uct  to  oppose,      1 

.  producer  :icm 

•  vcd  like  the    n 

.  cd  thembclvc- 
ihc  t 

.chs  and 
Ms  .  unfit  to  prop  the  fallin 

. 

•.^ootl    and  a  very   \nlianiprincc.     \l< 
. 

.  !:ine  out  oi  their  new  sc 
inents  ;  and  his  name  was  a  terror  to  thci. 
-.),  which  lasted  hut  two  \eurs.     Jevi.:. 
;i  had  \iruic  and  strcnir;  the 

ilin^  undc 

.  ,v  the  nei  restoring  the  ancient  plan  of 

.-.np'ue  more  tlian  Valentinian  ,  the  former  esipc 

.ill  the  frontier  garrisons,  merely  to 
>  -.ver  at  home  j  but  his  whole 


LMPIRE  OF  ROME.  271 

employed  in  fortifying  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  mak- 
ing levies,  raising  castles,  placing  troops  in  proper  sta- 
tions, and  furnishing  them  with  subsistence  for  their 
support ;  but  an  event  that  no  human  prudence  could 
foresee,  brought  up  a  new  enemy  to  asssist  in  the  uni- 
versal destruction. 

That  tract  of  land  which  lies  between  the  Palus  Maeo- 
lis,  the  mountains  of  Caucasus  and  the  Caspian  sea,  was 
inhabited  bv  a  numerous  savage  people  that  went  by 
the  name  of  the  Huns  and  Allanes.  Their  soil  was  fer- 
tile, and  the  inhabitants  fond  of  robbery  and  plunder. 
As  they  imagined  it  impracticable  to  cross  the  Palus 
Maeotis,  they  were  altogether  unacquainted  with  the  Ro- 
mans, so  that  they  remained  confined  within  the  limits 
then1  ignorance  had  assigned  them,  while  other  nations 
plundered  with  security.  It  hasbeen  the  opinion  of  some., 
that  the  slime  which  was  rolled  down  by  the  current  of 
the  Tanais  had  by  degrees  formed  a  kind  of  incrustation 
on  the  surface  of  the  Cimmaerian  Bosphorus,  over  which 
those  people  are  supposed  to  have  passed.  Others  re- 
late that  two  young  Scythians  being  in  full  pursuit  of 
an  heifer,  the  terrified  creature  swam  over  an  arm  of  the 
sea,  and  the  youths  immediately  following  her,  found 
themselves  in  a  new  world  upon  the  opposite  shore.  Up- 
on their  return,  they  did  not  fail  to  relate  the  wonders  of 
the  strange  lands  and  countries  which  they  had  discover- 
ed. Upon  their  information,  an  innumerable  body  of 
Huns  passed  those  streights  ;  and  meeting  first  with  the 
Goths,  made  that  people  fly  before  them.  The  Goths, 
in  consternation,  presented  themselves  on  the  banks  of 
the  Danube ;  and  with  a  suppliant  air,  entreated  the. 
Romans  to  allow  them  a  place  of  refuge.  This  they  ea- 
sily obtained  from  Valens,  who  assigned  them  several 
portions  of  land  in  Thrace,  but  left  them  destitute  of  all 
needful  supplies.  Stimulated  therefore  by  hunger  ami 
resentment,  they  soon  after  rose  against  their  protectors ; 
and  in  a  dreadful  engagement,  which  was  fought  near 
Adrianople,  they  destroyed  Valens  himself,  aad  the 
greatest  part  of  his  army. 

It  was  in  this  manner  the  Roman  armies  grew  weak- 

so  that  the  emperors,  finding  it  difficult  at  last  to 


•i'K  HISTORY  OF  THE 

raise  levies  in  the  provinces,  were  obliged  to  hire  one 
body  of  barbarians  to  oppose  another.     This  expe^ 
liad  i;s  use  in  circumstances  of  immediate  danger  ;  but 

•  r,  the  Romans  found  i 

to  rid  themselves  of  their  new  allies  as  of  their  for- 
mer enemies.     Thus  the  empire  was  not  ruined  by  any 
•icular  invasion,  but  sunk  gradually  under  tt 
overal  attacks  made  upon  it 

cd  one  province,  those  :vho  suc- 
ceeded the  first  spoilers  proceedecSjn  to  an  :ieir 
at  first  limited  to  Thrao  and 
,'inia  ;  but  w!.-                   ountrica  were  rui: 
destroyed  Macedo                                             e  ;  and  : 

;m.      The  en.; 
i  inner  continually  shri: 

:  of  its  o\\  >n. 

The  .&  in  some 

the  time 
I  ;  but,  u; 

-c  body  ot  (  led  in  to 

forces  of  the  empire,  under  the  com- 
mand of 

the  uni\«  d  the  most  mortal  stab 

S  sccurit)  •  ho  is  represented 

us  brave,  impetus  the 

,  the  successors  of  Theodosius,  were  able  to  secure 

it ;  being  inst  ill  further  by  t  s  of 

one  Rusinus,  who  i.  ">n  the  th:  elf: 

;>tince,  I  say,  putti  if  at  the  head 

of  h:  forces,  dt  ^r  against  his  em- 

.aid  fought  the  armies  of  tin  Tor  some 

success.  r,  in  proportio 

Jiis  troops  were  cut  off,  he  received  new  sup 
native  forests  ;  and  at  length  putting  his  mi 

vecution,  passed  the  Alps,  and  poureu 
torrent  among  the  fruitful  vaJ  lies  of  Italy.     Th: 

region  had  long  been  the  seat  of  indolence  and  sen- 
sual delight  :  its  fields  were  now  turned  into  gardei 
pleasure,  that  only  served  to  enervate  the 

.  having  once  been  a  nursery  of  military  strei 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  273 

that  furnished  soldiers  for  the  conquest  of  mankind. 
The  timid  inhabitants  therefore  beheld  with  terror  a 
dreadful  enemy  ravaging  in  the  midst  of  their  country, 
while  their  wretched  emperor  Honorius,  who  was  then 
in  Ravenna,  still  only  seemed  resolved  to  keep  up  his 
dignity,  and  to  refuse  any  accommodation.  But  the 
inhabitants  of  Rome  felt  the  calamities  of  the  times  with 
double  aggravation.  This  great  city,  that  h«u  long  sat 
as  mistress  of  the  world,  now  saw  herself  besieged  by 
an  army  of  fierce  and  terrible  barbarians  ;  and  being 
crowded  with  inhabitants,  it  was  reduced  by  the  ex- 
tremes of  pestilence  and  famine,  to  a  most  deplorable 
situation.  In  this  extremity,  the  senate  dispatched  their 
ambassadors  to  Alaric,  desiring  him  either  t»  grant  them 
peace  upon  reasonable  terms,  or  to  give  them  leave  to 
fight  it  with  him  in  the  open  field.  To  this  message,- 
however,  the  Gothic  monarch  only  replied,  with  a  burst 
ef  laughter,  "  that  thick  grass  was  easier  cut  than  thin  ;" 
implying,  that  their  troops,  when  cooped  up  within  the 
narrow  compass  of  the  city,  would  be  more  easily  over- 
come than  when  drawn  out  in  order  of  battle.  When 
they  came  to  debate  about  a  peace,  he  demanded  all  their 
riches  and  all  their  slaves.  When  he  was  asked,  "  what 
i;  then  he  would  leave  them  ?"  he  sternly  replied,  u  their 
*•  lives."  These  were  hard  conditions  for  such  a  cele.- 
brated  city  to  accept ;  but,  compelled  by  the  necessity 
of  the  limes,  they  raised  an  immense  treasure,  both  by- 
taxation  and  stripping  ..he  heathen  temples,  and  thus  at 
length  bought  off  their  fierce  invaders.  But  this  was 
but  a  temporary  removal  of  their  calamity  ;  for  Alaric 
now  finding  that  he  might  become  master  of  Rome 
whenever  he  thought  proper,  returned  with  his  army  a 
short  time  after  ;  pressed  it  more  closely  than  he  had 

U  C  1163  done  before>  and  at  last  to°k  ^  »  but  whe" 
AD  418  ther  by  *°rce  or  strataSem  *s  not  agreed 
among  historians.  Thus  that  city,  which 
for  ages  had  plundered  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  enrich- 
ed herself  with  the  spoils  of  mankind,  now  felt  in  turn 
the  sad  reverse  of  fortune,  and  suffered  all  that  barbarity- 
could  inflict,  or  patience  endure.  The  soldiers  had  free 
liberty  topillage  all  placesexcept  the  Christian  churches; 


274  THE  HISTORY  OI    1  B 

and,  in  the  midst  of  this  horrid  desolation,  so  great  was 
the  reverence  of  these  barbarians  for  our  holy  religion, 
that  the  T  ian:>  found  safety  in  applying  to  those 

of  the  Christian  persuasion  for  protection.  This  dread- 
ful devastation  continued  for  thr^  ind  unsp 
able  were  the  precious  monuments,  both  of  art  and  learn- 
ing, that  sunk  under  the  fury  of  the  conquerors.  How- 
ever, there  were  still  numberless  traces  of  the  city's  for- 
mer greatness  ;  so  that  this  capture  seemed  rather  a  cor- 
rection t;  'throw. 

But  the  Gothic  conquerors  of  the  West,  though  they 
ufVercd  Rome  to  survive  its  first  captu  und 

hovr  easy  become  masters  of  it  upon  any  other 

occasion.  The  extent  of  its  walls  had  in  fact  made  it 
almost  impracticable  for  the  inhabitants  to  defend  them  ; 
and  'cd  in  a  \  'night  be  stormed 

without  much  difficulty,     Ucsilcs  this,  no  succours  v 
to  be  expected  from  without  ;  for  the  number  of  the  peo- 

'.  as  so  extreme  that  the  emperors  f 

obliged  to  retire  to  Ravenna,  a  place  so  l'< 
turc  that  M  be  safe  without  the  a^ 

:ic  therefore  s;  'gof 

the  Vandals,  not  long  after  contributed  to  de? 
merciless  sol  fourteen  davs  togc 

with  implacable  fury,  in  the  midst  of  t; 

or  public  her 

ere  the  least  protection 
against  their  lust  o: 

The  capital  of  the  empire  being  thus  d  sev- 

eral times,  and  Italy  overrun  by  barbarous 
der  various  denon  the  rein-  :s  of 

Kurope,  the  western  emperor*  for  some  time  continued 
to  hold  the  title  without  the  power  of  royalty.  Hono- 
rius  lived  till  he  saw  himself  stripped  of  the  greatest  part 
of  I,  ,ions,  his  capital  taken  ioths,  the 

Hu:  "n  Pannoniii,  the  Allanes  Sucvi,  and  A 

dais  established  U  nd  the  Burgundbns  settled 

in  Gaul,  where  tl 
After  some  time,  UK-  its  of  Rome  also,  being 

ndoned  by  their  princes,  feebly  attempted  t< 
aupreme  power  into  their  own  hands.     Armoric. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME.  ,275 

Britain,  seeing  themselves  forsaken,  began  to  regulate 
themselves  by  their  own  laws.  Thus  the  power  of  the 
state  was  entirely  broken,  and  those  who  assumed  the 
title  of  emperors  only  encountered  certain  destruction. 
At  length,  even  the  very  name  of  emperor  of  the  \\est 
expired  upon  the  abdication  of  Augustulus  ;  and  Odoa- 
cer,  general  of  the  Heruli,  assumed  the  title  of  king  of 
all  Italy.  Such  was  the  end  of  this  great  eftipire,  that 
had  conquered  mankind  with  its  arms,  anjj  instructed  the 
world  with  its  wisdom  ;  that  had  risen  by  temperance, 
and  that  fell  by  luxury  ;  that  had  been  estaMished  by  a 
spirit  of  patriotism,  and  that  sunk  into  ruin  when  the 
empire  was  become  so  extensive  that  a  Roman  citizen 
was  but  an  empty  name  Its  final  dissolution  happened 
about  five  hundred  and  twenty -two  years  after  the  battle 
of  Pharsalia,  an  hundred  and  forty-six  after  the  removal 
of  the  imperial  seat  to  Constantinople,  and  four  hundred 
:\nd  seventy-six  after  the  nativity  of  our  Saviour. 


END. 


Ifea 


ft 

-  i 

-' 


! 


\  N 


